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<span>Health Fraud</span>
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<h1 itemprop="name" class="with-also">
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Health Fraud
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</h1>
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<span class="alsocalled">Also called: Health scams, Quackery</span>
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<h3>Basics</h3>
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<a title="Go to: Summary" href="#summary">Summary</a>
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<li>
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<a title="Go to: Start Here" href="#cat_51">Start Here</a>
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<h3>Learn More</h3>
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<a title="Go to: Related Issues" href="#cat_47">Related Issues</a>
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<li>
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<a title="Go to: Specifics" href="#cat_42">Specifics</a>
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<h3>See, Play and Learn</h3>
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<h3>Research</h3>
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<a title="Go to: Journal Articles" href="#cat_59">Journal Articles</a>
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<h3>Resources</h3>
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<li>
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<a title="Go to: Find an Expert" href="#cat_83">Find an Expert</a>
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<h3>For You</h3>
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<a title="Go to: Patient Handouts" href="#cat_69">Patient Handouts</a>
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</div>
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</section>
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<a name="summary"></a>
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<section id="topsum_section">
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<div class="summary-title syndicate">
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<h2>Summary</h2>
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</div>
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<div id="topic-summary" class="syndicate"><p>Health fraud scams involve selling medicines, <a href="https://medlineplus.gov/dietarysupplements.html">supplements</a>, devices, foods, or cosmetics that have not been proven effective. At best, these scams don't work. At worst, they're dangerous. They also waste money and might keep you from getting the treatment you really need.</p>
|
||
|
||
<p>Some of the possible dangers of scam products are that they could:</p>
|
||
<ul>
|
||
<li>Be contaminated from being made in unclean facilities or without proper quality control</li>
|
||
<li>Contain harmful ingredients that are not listed on the label</li>
|
||
<li>Trigger a <a href="https://medlineplus.gov/drugreactions.html">harmful interaction</a> with medicines you are taking</li>
|
||
<li>Cause serious, even life-threatening, injuries</li>
|
||
</ul>
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||
|
||
<p>Health fraud scams can be found everywhere, promising help for many common health issues, including weight loss, memory loss, sexual performance, and joint pain. They target people with serious conditions such as <a href="https://medlineplus.gov/cancer.html">cancer</a>, <a href="https://medlineplus.gov/diabetes.html">diabetes</a>, <a href="https://medlineplus.gov/heartdiseases.html">heart disease</a>, <a href="https://medlineplus.gov/hiv.html">HIV</a>, and <a href="https://medlineplus.gov/alzheimersdisease.html">Alzheimer's disease</a>.</p>
|
||
|
||
<p>Just remember - if it sounds too good to be true, it's probably a scam. Some red flags to watch for are product claims that:</p>
|
||
<ul>
|
||
<li>Have personal testimonials by "real" people or "doctors" played by actors claiming amazing results.</li>
|
||
<li>Say that the product can treat or cure a wide range of unrelated diseases. No one product can treat or cure many different illnesses.</li>
|
||
<li>Mention conspiracy theories like "This is the cure our government and Big Pharma don't want you to know about."</li>
|
||
<li>Include phrases such as:
|
||
<ul>
|
||
<li>Ancient remedy</li>
|
||
<li>Miracle cure</li>
|
||
<li>No-risk money back guarantee</li>
|
||
<li>Natural cure</li>
|
||
<li>Quick fix</li>
|
||
<li>Secret ingredient</li>
|
||
<li>Scientific breakthrough</li>
|
||
</ul>
|
||
</li>
|
||
<li>Use scientific-sounding terms that don't make sense for the products, such as "molecule multiplicity."</li>
|
||
<li>Refer to prestigious prizes, for example "Nobel Prize winning technology."</li>
|
||
</ul>
|
||
|
||
<p>Before taking an unproven or little-known product, talk to your health care provider, especially if you are taking any prescription medicines.</p>
|
||
|
||
<p class="attribution">Food and Drug Administration</p></div>
|
||
|
||
</section>
|
||
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||
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||
|
||
|
||
|
||
<a name="cat_51"></a>
|
||
<section id="cat_51_section">
|
||
<div class="section">
|
||
<div class="section-header expanded">
|
||
<div class="section-title syndicate">
|
||
<h2>Start Here
|
||
|
||
</h2>
|
||
</div>
|
||
<div class="section-button">
|
||
<button title="Expand/Collapse section" role="button" aria-controls="section" aria-pressed="true" type="submit">
|
||
<span class="icon icon-section-action"></span>
|
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</button>
|
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</div>
|
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<div aria-live="polite" class="sm-live-area hide-offscreen"></div>
|
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</div>
|
||
<div id="section51" class="section-body expanded syndicate" aria-expanded="true">
|
||
|
||
<ul class="bulletlist">
|
||
|
||
|
||
<li>
|
||
|
||
|
||
<a href="https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/6-tip-offs-rip-offs-dont-fall-health-fraud-scams" target="TheNewWin" data-sid="110302" >6 Tip-offs to Rip-offs: Don't Fall for Health Fraud Scams</a>
|
||
|
||
<span class="desc-text">
|
||
|
||
<span class="orgs"> (Food and Drug Administration)</span>
|
||
|
||
|
||
</span>
|
||
|
||
<span class="also-lang"> Also in <a target="TheNewWin2" href="https://www.fda.gov/consumers/articulos-para-el-consumidor-en-espanol/6-consejos-contra-las-estafas-no-se-deje-enganar-por-los-fraudes-de-salud" data-sid="120565">Spanish</a> </span>
|
||
|
||
</li>
|
||
|
||
<li>
|
||
|
||
|
||
<a href="https://www.fda.gov/drugs/bioterrorism-and-drug-preparedness/how-spot-health-fraud" target="TheNewWin" data-sid="10455" >How to Spot Health Fraud</a>
|
||
|
||
<span class="desc-text">
|
||
|
||
<span class="orgs"> (Food and Drug Administration)</span>
|
||
|
||
|
||
</span>
|
||
|
||
</li>
|
||
|
||
</ul>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</section>
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
<a name="cat_47"></a>
|
||
<section id="cat_47_section">
|
||
<div class="section">
|
||
<div class="section-header">
|
||
<div class="section-title">
|
||
<h2>Related Issues
|
||
|
||
</h2>
|
||
</div>
|
||
<div class="section-button">
|
||
<button title="Expand/Collapse section" role="button" aria-controls="section" aria-pressed="true" type="submit">
|
||
<span class="icon icon-section-action"></span>
|
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</button>
|
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</div>
|
||
|
||
<div aria-live="polite" class="sm-live-area hide-offscreen"></div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
<div id="section47" class="section-body">
|
||
|
||
<ul class="bulletlist">
|
||
|
||
|
||
<li>
|
||
|
||
|
||
<a href="https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/how-buy-medicines-safely-online-pharmacy" target="TheNewWin" data-sid="156880" >How to Buy Medicines Safely from an Online Pharmacy</a>
|
||
|
||
<span class="desc-text">
|
||
|
||
<span class="orgs"> (Food and Drug Administration)</span>
|
||
|
||
|
||
</span>
|
||
|
||
<span class="also-lang"> Also in <a target="TheNewWin2" href="https://www.fda.gov/consumers/articulos-para-el-consumidor-en-espanol/como-comprar-medicamentos-de-forma-segura-en-una-farmacia-virtual" data-sid="156892">Spanish</a> </span>
|
||
|
||
</li>
|
||
|
||
<li>
|
||
|
||
|
||
<a href="https://www.fda.gov/drugs/buying-using-medicine-safely/quick-tips-buying-medicines-over-internet" target="TheNewWin" data-sid="62897" >Quick Tips for Buying Medicines Over the Internet</a>
|
||
|
||
<span class="desc-text">
|
||
|
||
<span class="orgs"> (Food and Drug Administration)</span>
|
||
|
||
|
||
</span>
|
||
|
||
</li>
|
||
|
||
</ul>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</section>
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
<a name="cat_42"></a>
|
||
<section id="cat_42_section">
|
||
<div class="section">
|
||
<div class="section-header">
|
||
<div class="section-title">
|
||
<h2>Specifics
|
||
|
||
</h2>
|
||
</div>
|
||
<div class="section-button">
|
||
<button title="Expand/Collapse section" role="button" aria-controls="section" aria-pressed="true" type="submit">
|
||
<span class="icon icon-section-action"></span>
|
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</button>
|
||
</div>
|
||
|
||
<div aria-live="polite" class="sm-live-area hide-offscreen"></div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
<div id="section42" class="section-body">
|
||
|
||
<ul class="bulletlist">
|
||
|
||
|
||
<li>
|
||
|
||
|
||
<a href="https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/beware-illegally-marketed-diabetes-treatments-fraudulent-pharmacies" target="TheNewWin" data-sid="115460" >Beware of Illegally Marketed Diabetes Treatments, Fraudulent Pharmacies</a>
|
||
|
||
<span class="desc-text">
|
||
|
||
<span class="orgs"> (Food and Drug Administration)</span>
|
||
|
||
|
||
</span>
|
||
|
||
<span class="also-lang"> Also in <a target="TheNewWin2" href="https://www.fda.gov/consumers/articulos-para-el-consumidor-en-espanol/tenga-cuidado-con-los-tratamientos-que-se-comercializan-ilegalmente-para-la-diabetes" data-sid="115849">Spanish</a> </span>
|
||
|
||
</li>
|
||
|
||
<li>
|
||
|
||
|
||
<a href="https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/caution-consumers-honey-based-or-honey-flavored-syrup-products-may-pose-health-risk" target="TheNewWin" data-sid="156086" >Caution Consumers: Honey-Based or Honey-Flavored Syrup Products May Pose Health Risk</a>
|
||
|
||
<span class="desc-text">
|
||
|
||
<span class="orgs"> (Food and Drug Administration)</span>
|
||
|
||
|
||
</span>
|
||
|
||
</li>
|
||
|
||
<li>
|
||
|
||
|
||
<a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/common-health-scams" target="TheNewWin" data-sid="74212" >Common Health Scams</a>
|
||
|
||
<span class="desc-text">
|
||
|
||
<img width="20" height="16" alt="Video" title="Video" src="https://medlineplus.gov/images/videocamera.gif" class="imgdesc">
|
||
|
||
<span class="orgs"> (Federal Trade Commission)</span>
|
||
|
||
|
||
</span>
|
||
|
||
<span class="also-lang"> Also in <a target="TheNewWin2" href="https://consumidor.ftc.gov/articulos/estafas-mas-comunes-relacionadas-con-la-salud" data-sid="10960">Spanish</a> </span>
|
||
|
||
</li>
|
||
|
||
<li>
|
||
|
||
|
||
<a href="https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/do-not-use-black-salve-dangerous-and-called-many-names" target="TheNewWin" data-sid="146986" >Do Not Use: Black Salve is Dangerous and Called by Many Names</a>
|
||
|
||
<span class="desc-text">
|
||
|
||
<span class="orgs"> (Food and Drug Administration)</span>
|
||
|
||
|
||
</span>
|
||
|
||
<span class="also-lang"> Also in <a target="TheNewWin2" href="https://www.fda.gov/consumers/articulos-para-el-consumidor-en-espanol/no-lo-use-el-balsamo-negro-es-peligroso-y-se-conoce-por-muchos-nombres" data-sid="146987">Spanish</a> </span>
|
||
|
||
</li>
|
||
|
||
<li>
|
||
|
||
|
||
<a href="https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/products-claiming-cure-cancer-are-cruel-deception" target="TheNewWin" data-sid="72830" >Products Claiming to "Cure" Cancer Are a Cruel Deception</a>
|
||
|
||
<span class="desc-text">
|
||
|
||
<span class="orgs"> (Food and Drug Administration)</span>
|
||
|
||
|
||
</span>
|
||
|
||
<span class="also-lang"> Also in <a target="TheNewWin2" href="https://www.fda.gov/consumers/articulos-para-el-consumidor-en-espanol/los-productos-que-afirman-curar-el-cancer-son-un-engano-cruel" data-sid="126842">Spanish</a> </span>
|
||
|
||
</li>
|
||
|
||
</ul>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</section>
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
<a name="cat_59"></a>
|
||
<section id="cat_59_section">
|
||
<div class="section">
|
||
<div class="section-header">
|
||
<div class="section-title">
|
||
<h2>Journal Articles
|
||
|
||
<span class="subheading">References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)</span>
|
||
|
||
</h2>
|
||
</div>
|
||
<div class="section-button">
|
||
<button title="Expand/Collapse section" role="button" aria-controls="section" aria-pressed="true" type="submit">
|
||
<span class="icon icon-section-action"></span>
|
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</button>
|
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</div>
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|
||
<div aria-live="polite" class="sm-live-area hide-offscreen"></div>
|
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</div>
|
||
<div id="section59" class="section-body">
|
||
|
||
<ul class="bulletlist">
|
||
|
||
|
||
<li>
|
||
|
||
|
||
<a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/39761318" target="TheNewWin" data-sid="10981" >Article: Research on quantitative evaluation of medical insurance fraud supervision policy based...</a>
|
||
|
||
<span class="desc-text">
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
</span>
|
||
|
||
</li>
|
||
|
||
<li>
|
||
|
||
|
||
<a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/39747917" target="TheNewWin" data-sid="10981" >Article: A robust and interpretable ensemble machine learning model for predicting healthcare...</a>
|
||
|
||
<span class="desc-text">
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
</span>
|
||
|
||
</li>
|
||
|
||
<li>
|
||
|
||
|
||
<a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/39680887" target="TheNewWin" data-sid="10981" >Article: From Doubt to Confidence-Overcoming Fraudulent Submissions by Bots and Other Takers...</a>
|
||
|
||
<span class="desc-text">
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
</span>
|
||
|
||
</li>
|
||
|
||
<li>
|
||
|
||
|
||
<a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=%22Fraud%22%5Bmajr%3Anoexp%5D+AND+humans%5Bmh%5D+AND+english%5Bla%5D+AND+%22last+1+Year%22+%5Bedat%5D+NOT+%28letter%5Bpt%5D+OR+case+reports%5Bpt%5D+OR+editorial%5Bpt%5D+OR+comment%5Bpt%5D%29+AND+free+full+text%5Bsb%5D+" target="TheNewWin" data-sid="10981" >Health Fraud -- see more articles</a>
|
||
|
||
<span class="desc-text">
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
</span>
|
||
|
||
</li>
|
||
|
||
</ul>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</section>
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
<a name="cat_83"></a>
|
||
<section id="cat_83_section">
|
||
<div class="section">
|
||
<div class="section-header">
|
||
<div class="section-title">
|
||
<h2>Find an Expert
|
||
|
||
</h2>
|
||
</div>
|
||
<div class="section-button">
|
||
<button title="Expand/Collapse section" role="button" aria-controls="section" aria-pressed="true" type="submit">
|
||
<span class="icon icon-section-action"></span>
|
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</button>
|
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|
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|
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<div aria-live="polite" class="sm-live-area hide-offscreen"></div>
|
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</div>
|
||
<div id="section83" class="section-body">
|
||
|
||
<ul class="bulletlist">
|
||
|
||
|
||
<li>
|
||
|
||
|
||
<a href="https://www.fda.gov/" target="TheNewWin" data-sid="655" >Food and Drug Administration</a>
|
||
|
||
<span class="desc-text">
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
</span>
|
||
|
||
</li>
|
||
|
||
</ul>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</section>
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
<a name="cat_69"></a>
|
||
<section id="cat_69_section">
|
||
<div class="section">
|
||
<div class="section-header">
|
||
<div class="section-title">
|
||
<h2>Patient Handouts
|
||
|
||
</h2>
|
||
</div>
|
||
<div class="section-button">
|
||
<button title="Expand/Collapse section" role="button" aria-controls="section" aria-pressed="true" type="submit">
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<span class="icon icon-section-action"></span>
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<div aria-live="polite" class="sm-live-area hide-offscreen"></div>
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<div id="section69" class="section-body">
|
||
|
||
<ul class="bulletlist">
|
||
|
||
|
||
<li>
|
||
|
||
|
||
<a href="https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000847.htm" data-sid="119685" >Protecting yourself from cancer scams</a>
|
||
|
||
<span class="desc-text">
|
||
|
||
<span class="orgs"> (Medical Encyclopedia)</span>
|
||
|
||
|
||
</span>
|
||
|
||
<span class="also-lang"> Also in <a href="https://medlineplus.gov/spanish/ency/patientinstructions/000847.htm" data-sid="119696">Spanish</a> </span>
|
||
|
||
</li>
|
||
|
||
</ul>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</div>
|
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</section>
|
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|
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|
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<h2>Topic Image</h2>
|
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|
||
<div class="section-body no-header">
|
||
<img src="https://medlineplus.gov/images/HealthFraud.jpg" title="Health Fraud" alt="Health Fraud" />
|
||
</div>
|
||
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|
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|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
<section id="encyclopedia-box">
|
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<div class="side-section">
|
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<div class="section-header red">
|
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<h2>MEDICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA</h2>
|
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|
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<div id="more_encyclopedia" class="section-body">
|
||
<ul>
|
||
|
||
<li><a data-sid="119685" href="https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000847.htm">Protecting yourself from cancer scams</a></li>
|
||
|
||
|
||
</ul>
|
||
|
||
</div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</section>
|
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|
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||
|
||
|
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|
||
|
||
|
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|
||
|
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|
||
|
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<section>
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|
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<h2>Disclaimers</h2>
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|
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|
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MedlinePlus links to health information from the National Institutes of Health and other federal government agencies. MedlinePlus also links to health information from non-government Web sites. See our <a href="https://medlineplus.gov/disclaimers.html">disclaimer</a> about external links and our <a href="https://medlineplus.gov/criteria.html">quality guidelines</a>.
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