Quack attack: Michael T. Ricks, Sr.
In 2002, Michael T. Ricks Sr. of  Gemini
Body Works put up a site attacking me for stating that he
is promoting a questionable hair removal device called the Super-Phaser
Gold by Rejuvenu:
http://www.truehairfacts.com/the_truth_about_andrea_james.htm
I reported his activities to the Colorado Attorney General,
the Better Business Bureau, and the FDA. Rejuvenu listed him
as a "medical consultant" on their site.
In 2004, Ricks was arrested
on 31 counts of criminal impersonation and sexual assault.
Below is the original information I put up about Ricks in 2002.
Had the Colorado Attorney General stepped in to shut him down,
these assaults on his clients may have been averted.
Original 2002 expose
I gave my response
to personal attacks previously, but he has recently made an
attempt to refute my statements. His incoherent response rambles
through the sorts of misdirections favored by quacks, in order
to avoid the facts at hand. He seems to think the facts I present
are “judgments,” not statements. Facts are facts, however,
so let’s look at the facts.
Fact 1:
Michael T. Ricks Sr. sells treatments in violation of federal
regulations
As you can see in the photo above, Michael T. Ricks, Sr. is engaging
in not one, but two violations of federal regulations in treating
this consumer: using the transdermal cotton-tipped applicator
probes and the so-called hands-free transcutaneous methods.
Here’s what the U.S.
Food and Drug Administration has to say about the two methods
Michael T. Ricks is selling to unsuspecting consumers:
There are no premarket notification
clearances, for any indication, for so-called hands-free transcutaneous,
transdermal cotton-tipped applicator probes, or continuous hair
removal.
In other words, he’s selling treatment that hasn’t
been cleared by FDA. That’s a violation
of federal regulations.
Fact 2:
Michael T. Ricks Sr. promotes a scientifically unproven device
There are no published clinical papers showing the Super-Phaser
Gold can achieve permanent hair removal
Legitimate methods of hair removal are subjected to scientific
scrutiny under controlled clinical conditions. The results are
then published in reputable medical journals. Quacks avoid this
because they fear their products will fail under scientific scrutiny.
Instead, they write up pseudo-scientific unpublished reports which
they use for promotional materials.
Showing the typical arrogance of a quack, Michael T. Ricks has
decided the Rejuvenu unpublished reports are good enough for him:
“I happen to believe that the studies are adequate to
prove Rejuvenu’s claims.”
Well, if it’s good enough for Michael T. Ricks, I guess
the FDA and the entire field of scientific inquiry must be wrong.
"Dr." Ricks continues:
“I really do not care what any study says… Why do
I need more extensive research from the company, or third party
individuals?”
This shows how difficult it is to deal with people like this.
Quacks often think they are special or smarter than everyone else.
As QuackWatch
says, “Some strong-willed people believe they are better
equipped than scientific researchers and other experts to tell
whether a method works.”
No matter what Michael T. Ricks has decided on his own, there
remians no published clinical data to back up his opinion. And
that's a fact.
Fact 3:
FDA has determined that Rejuvenu needs to submit data for
their electric Q-Tips and patches
Once again, Michael T. Ricks Sr. shows that
“The argument that Rejuvenu presents in their last letter
to the FDA is compelling to me”
Well, it wasn’t compelling to FDA, who told Rejuvenu the
following FDA
response:
In 1995, you submitted a 510(k)955584
for the AHRS Surface Electrolysis System, a modified “Patch”
epilator device that you apparently believed was a modification
requiring a new 510(k) and FDA clearance.
Absent FDA clearance, you have chosen
to market this device, and include claims that imply FDA clearance
or approval. It appears that you have made a decision independent
of regulatory review that your devices are equivalent to the
cleared device.
I have published ALL of the letters between FDA and Rejuvenu
available through Freedom of Information. That’s more than
I can say for Michael T. Ricks, who only puts up the letters that
support his erroneous conclusions.
This is not an “ongoing debate,” as Michael T. Ricks
tries to characterize it. According to FDA, the debate is over,
and Rejuvenu must submit a new 510(k).
Conclusion
Until Rejuvenu provides some legitimate
scientific proof, the Super Phaser Gold is definitely one to
avoid.
I’ve been dealing with guys like Michael T. Ricks for many
years, and they are a very stubborn lot who can’t be bothered
with things like facts and science. They believe what they want
to believe, and no one will convince them otherwise.
Since he claims to be a non-practicing psychologist, maybe Michael
T. Ricks, Sr. should see what real
psychologists have to say about people like him:
“When people are incompetent in the strategies they adopt
to achieve success and satisfaction, they suffer a dual burden:
Not only do they reach erroneous conclusions and make unfortunate
choices, but their incompetence robs them of the ability to
realize it.”
If you have lost money to Michael T. Ricks, please contact
me, and I’ll be happy to help you sue him in small claims
court. I have already helped consumers recoup thousands of dollars.
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