7 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}
7 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}

Is this Illegal?

by yourreviewer
6 replies
My friend is planning to write an ebook on "How to Cure Bruxism" and he is planning to use the approach, I have been there and I have experienced it and I know how to deal with it approach, since he is no expert in how to cure bruxism. Now in reality he hasn't experienced this problem and I told him that he can't use the empathy approach because he hasn't genuinely experienced one. But he said that people do it all the time and that he will not get into any kind of problem.

Is he correct? I know ethically it is definitely wrong, but can he defend himself legally as well?

I would appreciate your thoughts and more importantly what approaches you would recommend in such cases.

Thanks
#illegal
  • Profile picture of the author wassim
    I think it's not ethical, but not sure if it's illegal!

    Anyway... I wouldn't personally do something that I think is not ethical, even if it is 100% legal to do.

    Wassim
    Signature
    IT Video Tutorials
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[601917].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Johnathan
    No idea what that is -- but with respect to "cures" -- from the literature I have read, if it doesn't have support from the FDA (assuming he is in the US), they may breathe down his neck if it gains any kind of popularity and refers to alternative medicine/therapy as opposed to 'established' physicians reports, etc. My understanding is some people use a big disclaimer (you'll have to look) -- that basically says everything in the book is your own personal opinion, and by no means is coming from a doctor, etc, etc.
    Signature
    Make money from writing, find out how now.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[601919].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author TimGross
    It's possible to show empathy for a problem without lying in a sales letter, but to claim to have suffered from a problem you don't actually have in a sales letter is illegal.

    Also, as Johnathan said, "cure" is a very dangerous word. There are other ways to talk about "fixing the problem", "finding relief", etc that are safer to use.
    Signature
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[602109].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author artwebster
    This is definitely a big mistake.

    Presumably he will be contactable after he sells his product and a real question from a real sufferer would expose him immediately.

    Bruxism causes problems on a relationship level as well as a health level and he must be able to understand that some of the personal problems it causes can sound trivial to someone who has never experienced them but can be of major impact on relationships.

    In some of my health conferences, bruxism has been shown to be a contributory factor to many apparently unrelated problems.

    Your friend has probably looked at the problem and done as many people do - treated it as nothing more than an inconvenient habit, a very bad mistake to make.

    As for an uninformed, non medical expert attempting to write an ebook about a cure, that is something like some of the stupid ebooks I get sent about how I can cure my cancer by eating certain foods. The causes of Bruxism are often psycological in nature and that is not an area the layman should meddle in.
    Signature

    You might not like what I say - but I believe it.
    Build it, make money, then build some more
    Some old school smarts would help - and here's to Rob Toth for his help. Bloody good stuff, even the freebies!

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[602145].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Luke12
    Ya that would be a bad move. You have to know what your talking about!
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[602150].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author DrewG
    Without a huge disclaimer and terms of use, it'd be a pretty bad idea.
    Signature
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[602160].message }}

Trending Topics