Opinion by Consumer Advocate Tim Bolen
This October 8th, 9th, and 10th, 2004, I’ll be in Atlanta Georgia, with several hundred of my friends at the annual International College of Integrative Medicine (ICIM) – International Congress – and Joint Meeting with the International Oxidative Medicine Association. This year, it will be held at the JW Marriot Lenox Atlanta ..
Several years ago I was invited to speak to this ICIM board, and membership, at their annual meeting. The subject, at the time, was the Eleazar Kadile MD case in Wisconsin. I had been brought into Wisconsin to organize the Kadile defense, and ICIM, because of their interest in issues, I had hoped to tap for resources. It was a good move – for the ICIM membership was vibrant, and tuned in. Their leadership was first-rate, and focused. They clearly understood the Kadile case issues, and offered a myriad of assistance – including a massive fund-raising effort. That fund-raising saved the day.
The “quackbusters,” we know, run out of a New York ad agency, targeted Eleazar Kadile MD because they wanted a “precedent” case in place to use against all other AltMed MDs. The Kadiles, Eleazar and Genia, were picked as the target because they were unable to afford to defend themselves due to the extreme financial burden of two of their children having Lupus – and the medical costs incurred from that situation. ICIM understood, and over a long series of meetings and phone calls, came to the Kadile’s rescue.
In the Kadile case, not only was there NOT a precedent case set in place, but the “quackbuster’s” TOP testifying witness, hair-removal specialist Bobbie Baratz, the current president of the bumbling National Council Against Health Fraud (NCAHF), was sent home with his tail firmly tucked between his legs – and he hasn’t been hired to testify ANYWHERE since.
So, What’s ICIM?
In the USA, Big Pharma concentrates its suppression tactics in a big way, because of the sheer amount of mega-dollars involved. But are they successful? Not very, for several reasons.
(1) Most of the TOP Medical Schools in the USA, and worldwide, have added on “Alternative Medicine” offerings due to sheer demand from students. Any school, frankly, that doesn’t have such an offer, isn’t worth attending, nor should they be publicly funded. (2) There is probably, by my estimates, about 150,000 MDs and DOs already operating in the “AltMed” mode in the USA – in one form or another. (3) There are a good many cutting-edge “Altmed” organizations teaching, and promoting, non-drug therapies and techniques. One of the best is ICIM.
ICIM, like other cutting-edge group associations, offers VERY high tech training for its members at its annual conferences. The difference between ICIM and the others is that ICIM is politically savvy – and understands that attention must be paid to their member’s safety in the medical climate – and they look for ways, not only to deal with problems like the Kadile case, but they openly discuss ways to head off problems, and potential problems.
They make plans. Then they act.
My reasons for attendance at this year’s conference are (1) to report on the war between “health” and “medicine” to the membership (2) tell them why they, the members, need to support the Robban Sica MD case in Connecticut. (3) See my friends in a comfortable setting. (4) Put a face on some of those I talk to on the phone, or by e-mail, regularly.
But the member’s reasons for attendance are more than mine. While I’m “politicking” with some members, or vendors, in the hallways, other members are attending some very high tech classes, to learn something new, and effective, to use on patients. Take a look, for instance, at the offerings in the Heavy Metals Toxicity Program. Then look at the Oxidative Medicines and Therapy offerings. Then look at the International Congress schedule. If that’s not enough, take a look at the Affiliates Program.
I asked ICIM President Terry Chappell MD for ten good reasons people should be part of ICIM. He replied: (1) Here, you will learn true integrative medicine – the best from conventional and alternative medicine. (2) We are beginning a major coalition through which various groups can work together for your benefit. (3) There will be opportunities for unprecedented quality interactions with exhibitors. (4) We are introducing a new network of websites that you can join to market your practice at fantastic levels. (5) You can bring your nurses and techs to learn how to better help you in your work. (6) We have great pre-conference workshops to learn about metal toxicology, oxidative medicine, and how to thoroughly protect your practice from regulatory agencies – your choice. (7) You should bring your own pearls and nuggets, we will share them together in a group session. (8) You will learn the latest gems from Robert Rowon and Jonathon Wright. (9).. If you are in TACT, you will learn the required basics of standard cardiology and also share in how to best recruit subjects. (10) You will learn the latest from the politics of CAM with special messages from Al Augustine, James Carter and Tim Bolen.
Conventional medicine is in trouble. These are the people trying to fix it from the inside.. They already have, and are running, the “medical offices of the future.”They know what they are doing, and what they’re about. This is a group to be part of. If you don’t already know that, come and see. These people are at the top of their craft – and they’re warm, and friendly – just like you’d expect.
Stay tuned…
Tim Bolen – Consumer Advocate