Category: US HEALTH CARE SYSTEM CRITIQUE

An ongoing critique of the US health care system.

Wisconsin is the “Test Case…”

Wisconsin has, for the last several years, been a “showdown” between the waning quackbuster forces and the emerging, and awakening, North American Health Freedom Movement.  To some, the problems in Wisconsin represent a microcosm of the whole health situation on the North American continent. To me, the study of how the quackbusters entrenched themselves in Wisconsin, brought out valuable, and usable, information on how to beat the quackbusters – everywhere.

Opinion by Consumer Advocate Tim Bolen

Recently, purely by accident, in Wisconsin, we discovered another important aspect of the suppression of cutting-edge health care – the health insurance industry.  Oh, we knew the health insurance industry doesn’t want to pay for new things, but we never knew, or understood, the extent they’d go to to damage a provider of cutting-edge health care.  Below, you’ll read about how we found out.  You’ll also read what the health insurance people did to a health practitioner who found a way to demand payment using the US Government. Continue reading Wisconsin is the “Test Case…”

Wisconsin:  Just when we thought it was safe to go back in the water…

Department of Regulation & Licensing (DRL) “quackbuster” prosecutors Arthur Thexton, and James Polewski, in a series of actions, are openly defying new DRL policies set down by recent Governor’s appointee, new DRL head Donsia Strong Hill.  In this test of wills, it will be interesting to see who wins – the Governor of Wisconsin, or the “quackbusters.”

Opinion by Consumer Advocate Tim Bolen Continue reading Wisconsin:  Just when we thought it was safe to go back in the water…

Wisconsin:  Tough Decision Time…

Arthur Thexton, one of the Wisconsin Department of Regulation & Licensing (DRL) prosecutors who embraced the “quackbuster” crackpot theory of health care, limped out of a hearing in Room 179a, after lunch yesterday, looking very much like a man who’s suddenly seen his rocky-road future.

Opinion by Consumer Advocate Tim Bolen

The hearing, called to determine “costs, and allocation of costs,” in the State of Wisconsin v. Kadile case, didn’t go well for Thexton.  Thexton is the one who had brought in hair removal and ear piercing specialist Robert S. Baratz, the current president of the discredited National Council Against Health Fraud (NCAHF), as the do-all, be-all expert witness in the Kadile case.  Thexton had paid Baratz about $70,000 in so-called “expert witness” fees out of the Wisconsin Medical Board’s limited funds.  Baratz’s wild-eyed opinions, coupled with equally ludicrous crackpot offerings by Stephen Barrett, who was paid about $3,500 for his drivel in the case, had caused the State to spend over $165,000 on the unsuccessful prosecution.  Kadile’s “defense” cost over $300,000. Continue reading Wisconsin:  Tough Decision Time…

Wisconsin:  The Quackbuster’s “Waterloo?…”

Just a few years ago, in Wisconsin, leading-edge health practitioners were at risk offering effective alternatives to the deadly drugs/surgery paradigm.  The “quackbusters” ruled State health care with an iron hand.  Anyone who dared offer real solutions to suffering patients, and caught the attention of Wisconsin’s anti-health minions, paid a heavy price.

Opinion by Consumer Advocate Tim Bolen

In the world-wide war between “health” and “medicine,” Wisconsin’s throat was most definitely under the heel of jack-booted “medicine” minions. But not any more… Continue reading Wisconsin:  The Quackbuster’s “Waterloo?…”

Washington State Introduces New Health Freedom Bill – HB 2355…

 A Guest Editorial by Monty Kline PhD

 

A new bill has been introduced into the Washington State House of Representatives – January 2004.  It’s called the Access to Complementary/Alternative Health Care Act, a “Practitioner Freedom/Consumer Protection” measure.

Background

Numerous studies demonstrate that millions of Americans of all demographic groups receive a substantial part of their health care services from complementary and alternative health care practitioners.  The Eisenberg Study (JAMA 1998;280:1569-1575) found that over 50% of the people in the Western United States use some form of complementary or alternative health care.  At this time many complementary/alternative approaches are being proven safe and effective, while even the Journal of the American Medical Association is reporting that conventional medical and drug approaches are the third leading cause of death in America (JAMA 2000;284:483-485). Continue reading Washington State Introduces New Health Freedom Bill – HB 2355…

Prescription Drug Benefit Under Medicare…

A Guest Editorial by Joel M. Kauffman, PhD, Professor of Chemistry Emeritus,  University of the Sciences in Philadelphia

 

By now you must believe you have heard every possible objection and outrage to the Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit plan of 2003 that is now law.  The loudest screams are opposites: that there are gaps in the benefit, the “doughnut hole”, which should be plugged, and the maximum benefit should be set higher, meaning that it ought to cost us taxpayers more.  Others cry that drugs cost too much, that the plan is a drug company subsidy, so costs should be forced down because drugs are in the same class as a public utility.  The drug companies object that this will stifle all innovation. Continue reading Prescription Drug Benefit Under Medicare…

Busting the Quackbusters: The Plan for 2004…

Opinion by Consumer Advocate Tim Bolen

 

In 2004, the North American Health Freedom Movement needs to take a HARD LINE AGAINST the “suppression” of new health care. Where a new idea, paradigm, product is blocked, harassed, intimidated, or what-ever, in favor of the status quo, we need to take appropriate action against those responsible.  No matter who it is.

The war between “health” and “medicine” is a life or death struggle.

Forcing Americans to die to support the concept that a new health regimen, product, etc., must be bureaucratically “accepted” or “proven” before it can be used is, without a doubt, PREMEDITATED MURDER – and we need to deal with it as such.  Any government agent, supporting “suppression” needs to spend time in a Federal penitentiary, and in some cases, end their life at the end of a rope.

Period. No exceptions. Continue reading Busting the Quackbusters: The Plan for 2004…

An Open Letter to Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle….

Opinion by Consumer Advocate Tim Bolen

January 4, 2004

Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle – It’s time you took a hard line with the employees at your Department of Regulation and Licensing (DRL), with an eye towards a serious house cleaning.  The employees you have there simply ignore State policy, and common sense.  Incompetence, ignorance, and brutality have become virtue. Continue reading An Open Letter to Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle….

Quackbusters Defeated in Wisconsin – AGAIN…

Taking “quackbuster” (quackpot) advice can be dangerous to your public career. That’s what Wisconsin Department of Regulation & Licensing (DRL) Prosecutor Arthur Thexton has found out the hard way. His connection with, and the use of, the “quackbusters,” has led him down the path into much tighter control of his daily activities, and a series of HUMILIATING losses in the Wisconsin Court System. He is also facing years of personal legal actions filed against him for his activities.

Opinion by Consumer Advocate Tim Bolen

But, he can’t say he wasn’t warned… Continue reading Quackbusters Defeated in Wisconsin – AGAIN…

The “Wisconsin Project” is NOT over…

The important issue in Wisconsin has always been that TWO State employees, Arthur Thexton and James Polewski, both Prosecutors at the Department of Regulation & Licensing (DRL), had openly, and brazenly, without permission or consultation with their superiors at DRL, embraced, and agreed to promote, and ENFORCED as though they had merit in law, the CRACKPOT health positions of a subversive organization calling itself the “quackbusters.”   

Opinion by Consumer Advocate Tim Bolen

Polewski actually bragged of his membership in the fully courtroom-discredited National Council Against Health Fraud (NCAHF). Thexton had actually used Robert S. Baratz, the current president of the so-called NCAHF, an organization of doubtful origin and pedigree, currently run out of Baratz’s Braintree, Massachusetts hair-removal and ear-piercing salon, as an advisor and expert witness for the State of Wisconsin, and paid him a LOT of Wisconsin money…

Wonders never cease. Continue reading The “Wisconsin Project” is NOT over…

Australian Health Freedom Movement Gears Up For War…

Opinion by Consumer Advocate Tim Bolen

 

This important story is about how well the Australian Health Freedom Movement is organizing its campaign. In a minute I’m going to send you to read a well written article by Eve Hillary titled “Casualties of Corporate Medicine – The Jennie Burke Story.”

Eve Hillary’s article clearly, and simply, using the story of Jennie Burke, explains the political situation facing leading-edge health practitioners “Down Under.” Eve tells the story of“who, what, where, when, and how”  big pharma has organized its Australian anti-health campaign.  Every Health Advocate, and certainly every Health Freedom Advocate, in the world, should take a look at “the mechanism” of an organized “quackbuster” operation. The quackbuster modus operandi in Australia is atypical. What they do in Australia, is what they do everywhere. Knowing how they operate is knowing how to beat them. Continue reading Australian Health Freedom Movement Gears Up For War…

Wisconsin Quackpot Prosecutor Sued in Fed Court…

Opinion by Consumer Advocate Tim Bolen

 

Arthur Thexton, the Wisconsin Prosecutor who was recently humiliated in the Wisconsin Department of Regulation & Licensing (DRL) v. Kadile case, has been sued by another MD in the State of Wisconsin. When I read the NEW case, the charges against Thexton, and the surrounding documents, all of which I’m making available for you to read, I couldn’t help but shake my head in wondering.

Thexton has just finished being demolished in the Kadile case in Wisconsin, where Thexton spent $165,000 of the State’s money, falsely prosecuting Kadile, using as the accuser, case advisor, and “expert witness,” the well known crackpot Robert S. Baratz MD, DDS, whose medical/dental career has sunk so low his current income source, besides testifying, is the operation of a hair removal and ear piercing salon in Braintree Massachusetts, from which address he also runs the dubious National Council Against Health Fraud (NCAHF).  Now, Thexton has moved right on to another Wisconsin State debacle.  He’s apparently prosecuting an MD in a billing dispute with a health insurance company.  Thexton is acting on behalf of the insurance company,  and, he’s using taxpayer funds to do it. Continue reading Wisconsin Quackpot Prosecutor Sued in Fed Court…

State of Wisconsin Officially Dumps Quackbusters… and Allows Chelation Therapy

The State of Wisconsin Department of Regulation & Licensing (DRL) has, officially, dumped the “quackbusters” as their consultant on health care issues. This ends a ten year reign-of-terror within Wisconsin where, previously, health care investigators, and prosecutors had been trained to use the dubious website “quackwatch.com,” or “ncahf.org” as resources for health information.

Opinion by Consumer Advocate Tim Bolen

A CBS News “I-Team” report, titled “State Drops Case Against Alternative Medicine Doctor,” pretty well sums up the end of the quackbuster reign in Wisconsin State health politics. The TV broadcast started out to say “The Wisconsin Medical Examining Board unanimously voted by phone Friday to put an end to the state’s nine-year-old case against a Green Bay doctor.” Then it said “It’s a victory for freedom of choice, and I think it’s a victory for complimentary and alternative medicine and, quite frankly, I think it’s a victory for Dr. Kadile, personally,” Continue reading State of Wisconsin Officially Dumps Quackbusters… and Allows Chelation Therapy

In Wisconsin: The Exception Proves the Rule…

Well, I was proven wrong on something – and I’m very pleased it happened. It happened in Wisconsin.

Opinion by Consumer Advocate Tim Bolen

I have a jaundiced view of the media, especially national media. I wrote about this a few months ago in article called “Big Pharma Doesn’t Own the Media…”

So when members of the Wisconsin Association for Health Freedom (WAHF) thought about approaching CBS affiliate Channel 3’s “I-Team” in Madison about the quackbuster onslaught in their State, I was supportive, but not real enthusiastic. To me, TV has a fleeting sense, and doesn’t take the time to examine an issue, unless there’s a lot of blood, a car chase, bare skin, or inter-marriage between species. There is also that segment of the media who likes “shock” and has no compunctions about charging into your life with a camera, and making you look as bad as possible for their audience. Continue reading In Wisconsin: The Exception Proves the Rule…

CBS Airs “Sniveling Quackbuster” Expose’…

I have to hand it to CBS. They were able to capture, on Television, the true ESSENCE of quackbusterism, it’s REAL meaning, and the TRUTH of quackbuster existence.

Opinion by Consumer Advocate Tim Bolen

In the second day of their special investigative report, CBS played the tape of little Bobbie Baratz, The PRESIDENT of the not-so-illustrious National Council Against Health Fraud (NCAHF) crying his heart out, sniveling, and sniffling his way through testimony (and life). Thank God we had the presence of mind to tape the TV show, for the laughter was SO contagious while viewing the show, it had to be replayed several times on VHS to get the full flavor of the event. Continue reading CBS Airs “Sniveling Quackbuster” Expose’…

CBS Nukes Wisconsin Quackbuster Assault…

Who says the national media isn’t interested in the attack on Alternative Medicine? If it was YOU, don’t say it any more, because it just happened in Madison, Wisconsin.  And, it wasn’t that hard to accomplish.

Opinion by Consumer Advocate Tim Bolen

I intentionally forgot to mention, in my articles about the War in Wisconsin, that CBS television was filming our every move in Madison, Wisconsin’s capitol. I also neglected to mention that CBS was traveling around the State, interviewing top AltMed leaders on camera.

Of course, I kept it to myself that CBS was carefully directed to take a HARD look at the Quackbuster operation nationwide, including the dubious National Council Against Health Fraud (NCAHF), the questionable website www.quackwatch.com, and their relationship with two card-carrying quackbuster members employed as Wisconsin Department of Regulation & Licensing (DRL) prosecutors, Arthur Thexton, and James Polewski.

Why did I keep this quiet? When we’ve been working on this for months? I like to surprise the quackbusters. It’s good for their psyche.  Continue reading CBS Nukes Wisconsin Quackbuster Assault…

Wisconsin Negotiations Break Down – Trial to Resume…

Negotiations in the Wisconsin DORL v. Kadile case have broken down, and the trial is about to resume with the continuation of the cross-examination of the State’s ONLY witness, the dubious Bobbie Baratz, a Massachusetts hair removal specialist.

And, that’ll be FUN…

Opinion by Consumer Advocate Tim Bolen

The case is a face-off between the giant North American Health Freedom Movement and the remnants of the once-successful, but now on-the-run, self-styled “quackbuster” organization.   Continue reading Wisconsin Negotiations Break Down – Trial to Resume…

AMA Bashes Quackpots…

 

I’m suggesting to you that you spend $12 at the American Medical Association (AMA) website to read, and download, an OFFICIAL AMA COMMENTARY, and an absolutely SHOCKING article BASHING the quackbusters.  In fact, the word “bashing” is an UNDERSTATEMENT.  The AMA couldn’t have made it’s OFFICIAL position on the quackbuster’s attack on AltMed any clearer.

Opinion by Consumer Advocate Tim Bolen

 

The Quackbusters would like to give us the impression that they represent American mainstream medical thinking, when in fact they do not… Continue reading AMA Bashes Quackpots…

Quackbuster Report Card: D(-) and Sinking Fast…

Everybody in the North American Health Freedom Movement knows who the “quackbusters” are. It’s been said, often, “If you’re not on Stephen Barrett’s dubious “quackwatch” website, then you’re NOT IMPORTANT in REAL health care. The more space he gives you, the bigger the threat you are.”

Opinion by Consumer Advocate Tim Bolen

But the question that’s always there is “who’s winning the war – us, or them?” Continue reading Quackbuster Report Card: D(-) and Sinking Fast…

Big Pharma: America Strikes Back…

Despots, worldwide, hate America and everything it stands for one simple reason – Americans say “No” to totalitarianism. In America, people demand to think for themselves, and make decisions based on their observations.

Opinion by Consumer Advocate Tim Bolen

 

Big pharma, worldwide, is trying to be planet earth’s lnewest despot. They almost made it. But they didn’t count on the North American Health Freedom Movement blocking their efforts to make humanity “drug-dependent” on a grand scale. They didn’t realize that Americans would see big pharma’s efforts to gouge a huge chunk out of our economy as a “criminal act.” Continue reading Big Pharma: America Strikes Back…