One of AMI's more subtle ads
The ads exhort readers to face up to their crippling erectile dysfunction issues, restore their confidence, and take charge of their lives. Or put more simply: “Bonk Longer”.
But this isn’t just standard-issue inbox spam. Instead the ads are part of a billboard advertising campaign by Australian firm Advanced Medical Institute (AMI) to promote their flagship product: a nasal spray designed to treat both erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation.
The brash ads have led to well publicised clashes between AMI and advertising standards commissions on grounds of decency both in Australia and in the UK, where the firm recently opened a Harley Street clinic. Last year the Australian Advertising Standards Bureau somewhat prudishly forced the company to cover up the word “sex” (admittedly written in six-foot-high letters) on hundreds of billboards around the country, while the British campaign has already generated hundreds of complaints.
Less well known, however, are the two investigations currently underway by different government agencies following claims that AMI’s wonder-product (illustrated in a bizarre video here) simply doesn’t work. The New South Wales Office of Fair Trading as well as Victorian Consumer Affairs are looking into the company’s practices after receiving complaints from customers. The regulator “believes the disaffection is probably much higher than the actual complaints received as men are too embarrassed to lodge formal complaints over the $4000 contracts”. Support group Impotence Australia estimates it receives four complaints a week about the organisation.
The spray’s main component is the drug apomorphine, used mainly for treating Parkinson’s disease. While it is thought to have some usefulness in fighting erectile dysfunction it’s widely considered to be less effective than Viagra and other treatments. The excellent Bandolier concludes “apomorphine is effective, in that it is better than placebo”. One would hope.
But regardless of the effectiveness of apomorphine, AMI’s nasal spray, the key weapon in its floppy-firming arsenal, remains clinically untested and totally unproven. Dr. Chris McMahon, associate professor of the Australian Centre for Sexual Health said of the spray:
“There’s a certain logic to it… [but] I could also argue that because Panadol is effective as a tablet for a headache we could crush it up and put it into some K-Y Jelly and rub it into the scalp. Now we all know that is ridiculous - the way that you would prove or disprove that is to do a clinical trial.”
More sinister still is AMI’s ‘money-back guarantee’. In order to qualify for a refund if the nasal spray doesn’t work (AMI’s services can often run into the thousands of dollars) patients have to agree to undergo three additional rounds of treatment to see if they can’t get it right. The last treatment? Self-administered injections directly into the penis. In other words: if the quacks can’t cure you the first time you have to give them three more goes, including needles, before you get your money back. The Sydney Morning Herald reports one case in which a one-armed man was told he would have to give himself injections if he wanted any chance of seeing his money again.
But none of this commotion or outcry should be unfamiliar to AMI’s colourful director, ‘Dr’ Jack Vaisman. Despite being a high profile business figure running a NASDAQ-listed company relatively little is known about “Doctor Droop”. One profile of the man begins this way:
Jack/Jacov/Jakov/Javov Vaisman/Vaysman/Waterman was born in Moscow/Ovruch/Odessa/Kiev/Ukraine/place unknown on August 23 and 28, in 1945 and 1946, according to the personal details provided by the company director and shareholder to the Australian Securities and Investments Commission.
Two things that seem incontrovertible are that Vaisman (let’s call him that, it’s easier than all the forward strokes) is not a registered medical doctor and that his run-ins with pesky medical regulations are frequent and nasty. In 1996 Vaisman’s then-company On Clinic Australia pleaded guilty to 34 charges of importing drugs not registered with Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration. He later was forced to re-title AMI’s nasal spray as “nasal delivery technology” after the Administration took issue with his marketing. In 2002 the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission moved against AMI for “misleading and deceptive conduct in relation to the advertising and promotion of treatments for erectile dysfunction (impotence) and premature ejaculation.”
The lesson of all this? Promises of a miracle cure for erectile dysfunction are probably best ignored, whether they’re in your inbox or being peddled on Harley Street.
Hat tip: Alexa Delbosc
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29 responses
Just for the record, the poster campaign was blocked in the UK because by referring to the “nasal delivery technology”, they were promoting prescription-only medicine, which is illegal.
Dr Droop has now expanded his empire to include the Heart Check Medial Clinic. Alarmist TV ads drum up the fear that your heart could give out any minute. But whilst a simple blood pressure and heart rate check is enough to screen for the majority of heart troubles, the clinic charges AU$600 to $1,000 for the following tests:
Blood Pressure, ECG, Exercise Stress Test, Doppler study of your legs to check your circulation in the legs and use of a Holter monitor, if necessary, for 24-48 hours in order to monitor your heartbeat.
At least it’s real medicine, but it’s medicine most people don’t need, peddled through fear and heavy sales tactics.
In the true spirit of competition I do not think there is any need to attack your competitors. As the saying goes there is always enough fish for everybody. What works for one may not work for another. AMI’s medication works for my Partner and I say no more.
The gentleman that owns the company AMI has completely taken advantage of one of the biggest and under researched problems with mens health: sexual function.
There are so many men with these issues in this country and of course others that it really was just siiting there ripe for the picking.
His advertising campaigns cleverly attract many of these guys and rip them off gross amounts for a medication called Apormorphine which anyone can easily research on the internet.
I am amazed that the Australian medical authorities have allowed his practice to continue. They do not consult with the patient properly and it is all about selling the drug rather than patient care. This sort of practice should not be allowed.
I wonder if the medication has even been subject to the appropriate trials and testing and if so why is it not available normally by prescription by any doctor.
want longer lasting sex?! TRY POMEGRANATE
I became a member here in Australia. my only problem is when i meet a new partner, after a little time with them everything is as normal. I was rushed into signing up then and there without any time to think about it, they made me believe this was the only way i could be fixed, and that i HAD to go on an 18 month program worth $3600. once i left the office i havent heard from them since.
I started on the nasal spray which burnt the crap out of the inside of my nose, the scabs inside my nose lasted for 2 months which were extremely annoying and painful at times. they put me on the trochee lozenge which i only used several times. i gave more to my friends than i have used.
They work most times but you still have to arouse yourself, they DONT just give you an erection. Some times the erection lasted for say 3 minutes then i couldnt get another one for hours.
They’ve still been deducting money from my account, twice a months and very irregularly, one month its the 3rd and the 20th ne next its the 15 and the 30th, How is someone supposed to budget for that when they dont know whe the debit will be. this irregularity has directly caused my bank account to be overdrawn seven times, each incurring a $40 fee from the bank.
And when i contacted them they have put all the onus back on me. Im now off to make a formal complaint.
AMI are rip off’s steer clear, go see a real qualified doctor who doesnt have monthly sales targets to reach. NOT worth the money…
I forgot to mention they have been deducting money from my account for the past year but i have not received any new medication in this time. Not even a follow up phone call from them to ask why i havent been there to get more. they want your money, they dont care if you get better.
I have a facebook group called “AMI nasal delivery spray add gets up my nose” if your on facebook find it and join!
> “…go see a real qualified doctor..”
I actually have seen a real doctor (my GP) and amazingly he recommended that I ring AMI. Which I haven’t (smelling a rat).
want longer lasting sex?! TRY POMEGRANATE
Wow, my husband, 58 years old has been using the spray for over months and it has completely saved our marriage. We found the entire consultation process at the clinic, and all of our follow up to be very educational and professional. Mu husband tried everything, Viagra which worked but had too many side effects, Ciaslis which was also bad for him. We love the way this medication has changed our lives for the better.
The comments above about AMI’s rotten business practices are true. The company hires consultants, promises to pay them then racks up thousands of dollars of services and never gives them a dime. The sales techniques are underhanded and for the most part everyone who sells the ‘treatment’ has never even seen the drugs themselves. The people who run the company are personally rotten too, but I won’t go into that here. Good luck with this company being around a year from now.
In February 2009 two comments were posted by a Richard Kaulmann regarding AMI and how the company had shut down the USA office and were going to concentrate on the UK. Mr Kaulmann also complained that AMI still owed money to the USA staff and agencies who provided temps.
These two comments seem to have been removed. This is probably because Richard Kaulmann now works in the UK (temporarily). Having had the unfortunate displeasure of dealing with this man, I would strongly advise all to “Steer clear of AMI”. As a potential client of AMI’s Mr Kaulmann pretended to be a Dr in an attempt to extract more money from me.
A very disgruntled ex-AMI client.
Many apologies I did not make it clear that Mr. Kaulmann worked for AMI in the USA as a Consultant and he is definatley not a Doctor.
my partner has tried it for about a month now and it has not worked at all…. he rang up to stop it today to learn that he simply cant. he apparently made a verbal contract which he didnt know of. very angry!!!!!!!!! all the doctor said was he can try the pills this is something we dont need but there is nothing we can do about it…….AMI is shit !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I went to AMI and got a spray for £200, that’s for only 25 ml! I didn’t worked for me and i didn’t like the way the put press on you to get you card details. They are no professional at all. Be careful when you sign the contract: if you want the money back they will retain 15% of your money for “transaction fees” minus all the products they gave you, plus you have to try at least three methods before getting your money back: spray, troches and self inyections on you penis. The last one caused a guy in Australia to lose his penis functions. I would say stay clear of them. I am in they UK and they seem to be importing the spray to UK without paying taxes: I got mine sent from Australia and it has a labell that says $0.00 value and they charged me £200. My email is teknex@hotmail.co.uk
Have to agree with everyone. AMI are out for a quick buck, they don’t give a shit about you.
I’m still trying to get my money back, for a product that simply burnt my nose! Steer well clear of AMI.
I searched around and found this: http://tinyurl.com/lts89e
Giving it a try a now. Doing a much better job then AMI, but hey that’s not exactly hard.
My partner has been thru 3 lots of “treatment” and nothing has worked.
The mouth “tablets” gave him ulcers which was very painful for him.
He simply cancelled his credit card so they coudnt take anymore money of him…
He found the “doctors” very rude and there wasnt any intrest in his problem.. it was all about $$
Its disgusting how some “company” can keep doing this for something that doesnt even work..
We honestly wouldnt recommend AMI to anyone
Hehehe want a satisfying Sex? try Mr. Delay
I don’t think AMI or any other drug will help curing premature ejaculation thoroughly, but there is a very reliable exercise called “Kegel” holding and releasing your pubic muscle. (search for a video on youtube). A trick to make every women scream and take her to 3-4 continuos orgasms in one go.
It will take some time for you to control your muscle and brain, as more you exercise/practice more result you will see. Its a guaranteed result, without paying and consuming anything. Have faith on yourself, god bless you all, best wishes and merry Christmas.
Let me give you a reference, please go through the following link: http://au.askmen.com/dating/love_tip_60/67_love_tip.html
This will definitely help you out, believe me. Happy sex life to every one.
BANG BANG
There is no control over advertising words???!!! The word Sex is may be advertised in the context of “NOUN” but for younger folks it is always “VERB”. Today it might be “NASAL DELIVERY TECHNOLOGY”. if it didn’t work, tomorrow there could be new advertisement with a new product saying “ANAL DELIVERY TECHNOLOGY”.
These businesses making use of the weakness and trying to snatch money, delivering from every opening they found in men.
I tried some herbal pills (don’t wish to mention names). Worked great for me. Using since 1 year. No side effects as such.
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AMI - that is similar to Scientology, isn’t it?
I don’t really know because I never had the problem because I have I have known what any athlete has known - exercise!
What’s the point of endorphins if we have nasel spray?
Dear sir or madam
my name is Lloyd G Wilmott
ID 820844
I went to your clinic on 11/8/209 for treatment i take many course of treatment which make me sick and didnot work in january i spoke to Dr SPIRA who told me thay conot find nomore treatment for me so he will refore me to the fefund department
.Two days later some one call me from the fefund department thay told me i will be recived a refund of £20040 in february i am still wating .I make many phone call and i get no reply .So my only opction is to seek leagal action
Interestingly enough, a variety of modern antidepressants that boost serotonin (eg Prozac, Zoloft, Cipramil) can effectively delay ejaculation as a side effect. As long as they don’t lower your libido or prevent you from having an erection, I don’t see why they could not work. I’m amazed the companies that make them haven’t aggressively marketed them for this purpose. Their general side effects are often temporary and not too bad-like some nausea, headache, feeling doughy. Obviously, not everyone can tolerate these drugs.
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