3 ms·

I don't see why they can't just put up a disclaimer that's like "This is only an indication of medical issues you may have. Always consult a doctor." Or somethi

I don't see why they can't just put up a disclaimer that's like "This is only an indication of medical issues you may have. Always consult a doctor." Or something like that. How come they try to make these guys shut down, but largely leave homeopathy alone? I would say homeopathy is way more damaging than seeing whats in your genes. Why does the FDA have to be jerks? (that's rhetorical. I know why they have to be jerks. It just sucks.)

potatolicious 13y ago
Because 23andMe can't run a disclaimer like that without being either: - totally disingenuous - defeating the core marketing angle of their product Either they are issuing the disclaimer in good faith, in which case their marketing becomes "we don't really know for sure, this is just a for-fun thing, do not base any health decisions off this". This is antithetical to what 23andMe is trying to do. Or they issue the disclaimer in bad faith - i.e., they claim certainty in their information, they claim reliability, and they market the product as a medical tool, and then slap a shitty disclaimer on the bottom like the small-print of a crappy infomercial purely for legal reasons. The latter approach is just creative mislabeling, like calling vibrators massagers.
- erifneerg 13y ago
  I was listen to an old episode of Radio lab (http://www.radiolab.org/story/91713-famous-tumors/ http://www.radiolab.org/story/91713-famous-tumors/) and they had an ad for 23andme. The ad most talked about how you can use this information and talk it over with doctor. The ancestry reports was just a side thing mentioned at the end.
pak 13y ago
If you think 23andMe is getting singled out in comparison to homeopathy, that's not correct. The FDA has long considered how to handle homeopathic remedies, and they do regulate them and the conditions under which they can be marketed. For more information, visit the NIH website: http://nccam.nih.gov/health/homeopathy#hed6 http://nccam.nih.gov/health/homeopathy#hed6 Note that homeopathic medicines cannot be sold over the counter if they claim to treat a serious disease (something that wouldn't resolve on its own, like a cold or a headache). They must be prescribed!
- cema 13y ago
  Does 23andme claim to treat diseases? Not that I know of.

potatolicious 13y ago

Because 23andMe can't run a disclaimer like that without being either: - totally disingenuous - defeating the core marketing angle of their product Either they are issuing the disclaimer in good faith, in which case their marketing becomes "we don't really know for sure, this is just a for-fun thing, do not base any health decisions off this". This is antithetical to what 23andMe is trying to do. Or they issue the disclaimer in bad faith - i.e., they claim certainty in their information, they claim reliability, and they market the product as a medical tool, and then slap a shitty disclaimer on the bottom like the small-print of a crappy infomercial purely for legal reasons. The latter approach is just creative mislabeling, like calling vibrators massagers.

erifneerg 13y ago
I was listen to an old episode of Radio lab (http://www.radiolab.org/story/91713-famous-tumors/ http://www.radiolab.org/story/91713-famous-tumors/) and they had an ad for 23andme. The ad most talked about how you can use this information and talk it over with doctor. The ancestry reports was just a side thing mentioned at the end.

pak 13y ago

If you think 23andMe is getting singled out in comparison to homeopathy, that's not correct. The FDA has long considered how to handle homeopathic remedies, and they do regulate them and the conditions under which they can be marketed. For more information, visit the NIH website: http://nccam.nih.gov/health/homeopathy#hed6 http://nccam.nih.gov/health/homeopathy#hed6 Note that homeopathic medicines cannot be sold over the counter if they claim to treat a serious disease (something that wouldn't resolve on its own, like a cold or a headache). They must be prescribed!

cema 13y ago
Does 23andme claim to treat diseases? Not that I know of.