Mal Vickers coming to Skepticon 2023
Mal Vickers is a skeptical activist with a singular focus on shonky so-called treatments, and the much-to-be-desired responses of regulators responsible for keeping our community safe.
According to Skepticon 2023 website:
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.
Working with Dr. Ken Harvey Mal has been instrumental in targeting false claims that can harm consumers. They reported on persistent non-evidence based claims in breach of the Chiropractic Board and AHPRA guidelines, and the absence of appropriate responses from these regulators.
Mal and Ken published the first review of the TGA’s Complaints Resolution Panel over its entire 19 year life. The analysis comprehensively demonstrated the failure of the TGA to ensure regulatory compliance by advertisers of complementary medicines.
While our regulatory system is meant to rein in violations, from 1999 to 2018 complaints and established breaches of the law greatly increased.
At Skepticon, Mal will peel 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?
Mal is also on social media:
You can still get tickets to Skepticon for either the physical or online experience.