Things are not going well for the quackpot menace.
Opinion by Consumer Advocate Tim Bolen
The Reedsburg Independent newspaper ran an article last Thursday quoting from a joint press release from Senator Dale Schultz, and Representative Sheryl Albers from the Third District of the Wisconsin legislature. You can read the whole article by clicking here. But here’s a sample:
“State Capitol – Sen. Dale Schultz (R – Richland Center) and Rep. Sheryl Albers (R – Reedsburg) questioned today the legitimacy of a disciplinary process underway against a state doctor using alternative therapies to treat patients.
The Department of Regulation and Licensing (DRL) is currently in the middle of disciplinary proceeding against Dr. Eleazar Kadile, in part for using chelation therapy as an alternative treatment for patients with heart disease. Similar arguments have been levied at LaValle resident Dr. Robert Waters, who runs the Waters Preventative Medicine Center in Wisconsin Dells.
“We have constituents who swear by this treatment. If they feel better as a result of it, who are we to take that from them?” said Schultz. “When it comes to health care, individuals should make these decisions, not overzealous paper-pushers.”
Much of the attention surrounds the state’s expert witness, Dr. Robert Baratz. Baratz runs the National Council Against Health Fraud (NCAHF), a non-profit organization based near Boston, Massachusetts. However, many individuals have questioned his professional credibility. He has been accused of padding his resume as an expert in alternative medicine so that he can collect fees for testifying before licensing and review boards. To date, Baratz has received $48,806 in state funds for his services. According to Christopher Klein, DRL Executive Assistant, Baratz has dropped off an additional stack of invoices to cover his fees for this appearance. However, it is unclear as to what further payments Baratz will receive from the state.”
Albers, and Schultz, have introduced a bill in the Wisconsin legislature to prevent personal agenda prosecutors like Arthur Thexton from attacking other leading edge Wisconsin health professionals. The bill speaks for itself. You can read it by clicking here.
But, It’s Even More Interesting…
Last Wednesday, July 23rd, 2003, a formal complaint was filed against Department of Regulation and Licensing employee Arthur Thexton with the United States Attorney Department of Justice Western District of Wisconsin alleging “Corruption in office by State official, attempted extortion, Mail Fraud, Wire Fraud, Deprivation of intangible right of honest services.”
The complaint states in part: “The said Thexton has used his office to defraud the State of Wisconsin of in excess of $75,000.00 (Seventy-five thousand “dollars”) in conspiracy with one Robert S. Baratz, knowing the same Baratz to be incompetent as an “expert witness”, or having been required to ascertain the competency of the said Baratz prior to engaging Baratz’s “services” on behalf of the State of Wisconsin.”
Then it goes on to say “The same Thexton has attempted, and continues to attempt to extort performance of the undersigned, knowing, or being required by his alleged training and professional experience to know, that neither Thexton nor the Division of Enforcement, Department of Regulation and Licensing, State of Wisconsin have jurisdiction and/ or authority over the personal and private activities and relationships of the undersigned.”
And then it says “The enclosed documents shall provide prima facie evidence of the malevolent intent and illegal and unlawful acts of the said Thexton. Documentation is being acquired as evidence of the conversion of funds of the State of Wisconsin by Arthur Thexton in conspiracy with Robert S. Baratz.”
Stay tuned…
Tim Bolen – Consumer Advocate