Mal Vickers is a life member of the Australian Skeptics and former long-term committee member of the Victorian branch. Mal is renowned for his activism in relation to shonky treatments offered by alternative therapists such as chiropractors.
In 2016 Mal received the ‘Skeptic of the Year’ award, jointly with Dr Ken Harvey for complaints about chiropractors. While studying towards a Master of Public Health, Mal investigated the complementary medicines market using the complaints made about its advertising and products. Mal is a mild-mannered bio-medical engineer and enjoys photography and tinkering in his workshop.
Mal’s Skepticon presentation is called Snake Oil Incorporated.
Navigate the aisles of Australian pharmacies and you’ll encounter a puzzling array of products, ranging from trusted medicines through to ridiculous quackery. Among the shelves laden with genuine medicines, you might find offerings like Vita Gummies, promising good health by chewing lollies.
Krill oil, touted for its omega-3 content and ability to lighten your wallet. Also, ear candles; those who purchase this product are more likely to accidentally burn their house down than remove ear wax.
While our regulatory system is meant to rein in violations, from 1999 to 2018 complaints and established breaches of the law greatly increased.
Mal peels back the layers of misleading advertising that ultimately wastes people’s time and money.
How do the companies behind these products get away with it? And, who tops the list for unethical behaviour?
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