The purchase of health care products by the elderly has always attracted much attention, but it is still uncommon for the elderly with cancer to buy health care products to treat diseases.
Recently, Mr. He from Yiwu told a Chao News reporter that his 65-year-old mother was diagnosed with breast cancer, and a local store claimed that a "garlic oil" could fight cancer.
"This disease can't be delayed at all, and the sooner you go to the hospital for treatment, the better. Mr. He was so angry that he even "went on a hunger strike" and complained to the Jiangdong Institute of the Yiwu Municipal Market Supervision Bureau.
Garlic oil advertisement, which claims to be anti-cancer, the picture is provided by Jiangdong Institute of Yiwu Market Supervision Bureau.
Mother is obsessed with "garlic oil" to fight cancer,
The son went on a hunger strike for three days before he was willing to seek medical treatment
Mr. Ho's mother, 65 years old, has been retired for many years.
"Like many elderly people, my mother likes to visit various health care product institutions and stores after retirement, where she can get a few eggs for free, listen to health lectures, and chat with salespeople. Mr. He told the Chao News reporter.
However, there is no such thing as a free lunch. Mr. He said that in the years since his mother's retirement, she has been convinced of the "curative effect" boasted by the health care product salesman, and she trusts her even more than her family.
In Mr. He's home, there are piles of various brands and types of health care products, including camel milk, sea cucumbers, bear bile capsules, etc., which his mother bought when participating in various health care product activities. ”
In the beginning, for Mr. He, it was okay to eat these health products, "The pension is theirs, and they are happy." Even if those supplements don't work, they're not harmful, right?"
Four months ago, Mr. Ho's mother was diagnosed with breast cancer, but she was reluctant to go to a regular hospital for treatment.
She listened to the fools of those health product salespeople, saying that it was a 'garlic oil' product that could fight cancer. Mr. He was angry and anxious. The shop mainly sells crocodile meat, but it also sells some other products, including garlic oil.
"My mom went to the health seminar at this store, and the sales told her that she didn't have to go to the hospital for breast cancer, and she was guaranteed to be cured for three months after eating their garlic oil. The old man was convinced of this, and quickly paid for this product, which was a three-month course of treatment. Verified by the Chao News reporter, a box of this garlic oil costs six or seven hundred yuan, and the old man spent a total of more than 8,000 yuan.
Mr. He said that the family did not fail to persuade them, and they also went to the door to scold the salesperson, but it was useless, "My mother followed the devil and believed it." ”
"The doctor said that my mother's condition was very bad, that she could not delay any longer, and that she needed to receive regular treatment immediately. Mr. Ho said he ended up on a hunger strike for three days before his mother agreed to go with her to the hospital for further examination. Unexpectedly, the people in the store still didn't give up, and called the old man again and guided her to go to a hospital in Shenyang for medical treatment, and the other party claimed that the hospital was a specialist in incurable diseases, and there was no need for chemotherapy and radiotherapy, or even medicine and injections to cure breast cancer.
"I went to check, and the hospital didn't have any qualifications at all, and the Internet was full of complaints. These people are so bad, I'm really going crazy. In desperation, Mr. He gathered the efforts of the whole family to persuade his mother, and at the same time complained to the local market supervision department.
The store is suspected of false advertising,
was fined 12,000 yuan
After learning about the relevant situation, the staff of the Jiangdong Institute of the Yiwu Municipal Market Supervision Bureau quickly arranged for law enforcement officers to inspect the store. They found that there was a propaganda classroom in the store, with a banner hanging in the room that read, "Don't worry about the disaster and epidemic of garlic oil at home", and the computer stored relevant promotional materials for the introduction of "garlic oil" products and the sharing of effects.
During the investigation, law enforcement officers found that in addition to "garlic oil", the store's promotional materials also contained video introductions and PPTs of a number of health products, including some photos of elderly people and statements that "the store owner later admitted that these claims were all fabricated." ”
The staff told the Chao News reporter that the store claimed that its products were good for the human body and could even treat cancer, but could not provide relevant test reports and qualification certificates. Not only Mr. Ho's mother, but also many elderly people were confused by the store's advertisements. ”
"As far as this product is concerned, it is a bit similar to vegetable oil, as a food, its qualifications are complete and can be sold legitimately. But in fact, it does not have the effects advertised by the store at all, and it is suspected of false advertising. Said the staff.
After the intervention of the market supervision department, the store has refunded more than 8,000 yuan of Mr. He's mother's payment. In addition, law enforcement officers also conducted administrative interviews, criticized and educated the person in charge of the store, and ordered him to immediately rectify the situation and not to make false propaganda again.
Considering that the elderly were more trusting of the sales staff in the store at the moment, the law enforcement officers asked the person in charge of the store to contact Mr. Ho's mother immediately and persuade the elderly to seek medical treatment at the hospital. Currently, the elderly man has been receiving chemotherapy in the hospital.
"At the moment, the situation is relatively good. Mr. He said that fortunately there was no delay in treatment, "The salesperson was also a little scared later, and called to persuade my mother not to continue eating." ”
The staff of the Yiwu Market Supervision Bureau said that the sulfur compounds, allicene and allicin contained in garlic have a certain effect on sterilization and antivirus, but it does not mean that it can treat diseases, let alone cancer. The Yiwu Municipal Market Supervision Bureau ordered it to stop the illegal act and imposed a fine of 12,000 yuan in accordance with the provisions of Article 58, Paragraph 1 (2) of the Advertising Law of the People's Republic of China.
Zhu Jieping, a specially invited researcher at the China Society for Policy Sciences and a founding partner of Taikun Law, said in an interview that Article 148 of the Civil Code stipulates that "if one party uses fraudulent means to cause the other party to carry out a civil juristic act contrary to its true intentions, the defrauded party has the right to request the people's court or arbitration institution to revoke it." "If a merchant makes false advertising to deceive consumers into purchasing products, consumers may claim their rights within one year in accordance with this provision.
The staff reminded that "health care products" cannot replace medicines, especially "health care products" that exaggerate their efficacy will only empty the wallets of the elderly, and even delay the treatment time, resulting in a lack of people and money. For middle-aged and elderly people, it is necessary to be vigilant, distinguish the authenticity of health care products, and do not listen to exaggerated propaganda, so as not to fall into the trap of illegal businesses. If you have any health problems, you should seek medical advice from the hospital in time. If the elderly around you are deceived, pay attention to saving video, audio, paper promotional materials and other materials, actively report and complain to the local market supervision department, jointly protect the "money bags" of the elderly, and purify the consumer market related to the elderly.
Source: Chao News
Editor: WJ