Words you can't use in healthcare marketing

Grouped from the 87 compiled banned-claim rules that apply to addiction and treatment marketing across the federal layer and the states with a live pack. The scanner reads your copy for the claim, not the keyword, so context matters: "no quick cures" passes, "our cure for addiction" flags.

• High riskCure and guarantee claims

  Do not claim a non-drug wellness offering (supplement, vitamin, IV drip, peptide, detox, cleanse, red light, sauna, herbal product) cures, treats, prevents, reverses, or heals a disease or medical condition. A disease claim for a non-drug offering makes an implied drug claim and is deceptive absent drug-level competent and reliable scientific evidence; Section 12 re

  23 compiled rules across 16 jurisdictions. 15 U.S.C. 52(a); 15 U.S.C. 45(a)(1); FTC Health Products Compliance Guidance (Dec. 2022), disease claims. https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title15-section52&num=0&edition=prelim · 15 U.S.C. 45(a)(1); FTC Health Products Compliance Guidance (Dec. 2022), substantiation of efficacy claims. https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title15-section45&num=0&edition=prelim · FTC Health Products Compliance Guidance (Dec. 2022), substantiation of efficacy claims; 15 U.S.C. 45(a)(1). https://www.ftc.gov/business-guidance/resources/health-products-compliance-guidance

• High riskUnsubstantiated success and outcome claims

  Stated recovery or success rates, such as a numeric success rate or completion rate, presented as a marketing claim. A stated rate of recovery or success is squarely within N.

  3 compiled rules across 2 jurisdictions. N.C. Gen. Stat. 90-113.151(c)(2)c (Truth in Marketing; false or misleading statement about the rate of recovery or success) and (e) (unfair or deceptive trade practice under N.C. Gen. Stat. 75-1.1), https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/ByArticle/Chapter_90/Article_5H.html · 22 TAC 164.3(7), 164.3(16). · Tex. H&S Code 164.010(1)(B); 164.011; 164.012; 164.013

• High riskEstablishment claims (proven, clinical)

  Do not claim a product or service is clinically, scientifically, or medically proven, or that studies prove it works, unless the advertiser holds evidence matching that exact claim. An establishment claim represents a specific level of scientific support; the FTC requires the advertiser to possess at least the level of support claimed, mean

  2 compiled rules across 1 jurisdiction. FTC Health Products Compliance Guidance (Dec. 2022), competent and reliable scientific evidence standard; 15 U.S.C. 45(a)(1). https://www.ftc.gov/business-guidance/resources/health-products-compliance-guidance · FTC Health Products Compliance Guidance (Dec. 2022), endorsement substantiation; 16 CFR 255.3; 15 U.S.C. 45(a)(1). https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/16/part-255

• High riskInducements and referral pay

  Compensation for marketers, recruiters, or referral partners described as paid per admission, per patient, per referral, or per placement, or otherwise conditioned on the volume or value of patients delivered. 18 U.S.C. 220 makes paying or receiving remuneration for referrals to recovery homes, clinical treatment facilities, or labs a federal crime, up to $200,000 and

  30 compiled rules across 15 jurisdictions. 18 U.S.C. 220; United States v. Schena, No. 23-2989 (9th Cir. July 11, 2025) (primary anchor); D.N.J. guilty pleas of Sept. 15, 2020 (Mohammad and Dickau) (secondary anchor); Tex. H&S Code 164.005 (state-conditional, TX facets); N.Y. MHL 32.06 (state-conditional, NY facets); Cal. HSC 11831.6 (state-conditional, CA); C.R.S. 12-245-224(1)(q) (CO carve-out divergence caution) · FTC Health Products Compliance Guidance (Dec. 2022), safety claims; 15 U.S.C. 45(a)(1); 15 U.S.C. 52(a). https://www.ftc.gov/business-guidance/resources/health-products-compliance-guidance · A.R.S. 44-1522 (Arizona Consumer Fraud Act); A.R.S. 13-3730, https://www.azleg.gov/ars/44/01522.htm

• High riskTestimonials and endorsements

  Do not imply government or FDA endorsement of the off-label use without literally saying FDA-approved. Intended use is inferred from promotional statements (21 CFR 201.

  2 compiled rules across 2 jurisdictions. N.J.S.A. 56:8-230 to 56:8-232 (P.L. 2025 c.122, A3974), unlawful practice (4) (implied affiliation without express written consent), https://pub.njleg.gov/Bills/2024/AL25/122_.HTM · 21 CFR 201.128; 21 U.S.C. 352(a); 22 TAC 164.3(2).

• High riskSafety and risk-free claims

  Do not claim or imply a product is safe or harmless because it is natural. The guidance treats safe-because-natural framing as a deceptive implied safety claim; natural substances can carry real risks and the implication requires the s

  1 compiled rule across 1 jurisdiction. FTC Health Products Compliance Guidance (Dec. 2022), safety claims; 15 U.S.C. 45(a)(1). https://www.ftc.gov/business-guidance/resources/health-products-compliance-guidance

• FlagSuperiority and number-one claims

  Do not claim to be superior to other physicians (best, top-rated, number one, superior to, better than the rest). Verbatim prohibits conveying qualifications/skills superior to other physicians, other than a simple listing of recognized achievements.

  1 compiled rule across 1 jurisdiction. 64B8-11.001(2)(h).

Other verticals carry their own inventories: med spas add establishment-claim and free-offer rules, dental adds board-specific advertising limits, and cannabis adds mandatory warnings. The families above are the addiction and treatment set, which is the deepest.

The cure family is the one every writer trips on. Here is the difference the scanner sees.

Pre-Trip is a rigorous screen, not legal advice. Counsel decides; we help you arrive prepared. The inventory reflects the library as of the build and grows as rulesets are added.