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This is new to me.... homeopath is a continuation after DO / MD degree...
http://www.azcapitoltimes.com/main.asp?SectionID=2&SubSectionID=2&ArticleID=2647
http://www.azcapitoltimes.com/main.asp?SectionID=2&SubSectionID=2&ArticleID=2647
Medical Board says its going through rebuilding process
By Phil Riske
Complaints against homeopaths, physicians licensed and regulated by their own examining board, can also be investigated by two other state agencies, which has caused jurisdictional disagreements.
Homeopaths, whose practices are under the jurisdiction of the Arizona Board of Homeopathic Medical Examiners, hold dual licenses as allopathic physicians (MDs) or osteopathic physicians (DOs) and can come under scrutiny of the Arizona Medical Board or the Board of Osteopathic Examiners in Medicine and Surgery, depending on the nature of complaints, says Roger Downey, public information officer for the Medical Board.
There could be an issue every single time with a dual-licensed physician, said Mr. Downey, responding to an Oct. 9 article in The Arizona Republic that reported the Homeopathic Board over the past five years has licensed four physicians who have been convicted of felonies in other states and six others who have lost their licenses or been disciplined elsewhere.
Nearly all complaints against homeopaths (MDHs) are referred to their board by the Medical Board, says Chris Springer, executive director of the Homeopathic Board.
Over the past 20 years, the Medical Board and the Osteopathic Board have disciplined two homeopaths one each according to Arizona Capitol Times research.
Ms. Springer says questions of which board has jurisdiction have arisen in two DO cases, but it happens more frequently with the Medical Board.
We have a couple of doctors who are repeat offenders, she said.
Mr. Downey of the Medical Board says state law requires creation of an independent jurisdictional arbitration panel when there is a dispute between two examining boards.
That has never been done, however, because the two boards have been able to work out an agreement on concurrent investigations, he said.
Chelation therapy
Jack Confer, executive director of the Osteopathic Board, says there is one open DO case where jurisdiction is in question, and chelation therapy is often at the center of complaints against homeopaths.
Chelation, a common homeopathic practice, is an intravenous therapy designed to cleanse the blood of various toxins, which are diagnosed with blood, urine and hair tests. The diagnostic procedures, or lack of them, are considered allopathic, Ms. Springer said.
Homeopathy was developed by a German physician, Samuel Hahnemann, (1755-1843) and refined and popularized by an American physician, James Tyler Kent. It is based on the theory that each naturally occurring element, plant, and mineral compound will, when ingested or applied, result in certain symptoms. Dr. Hahnemann believed that, diluted amounts of these substances could then be used to treat symptoms they were known to produce.
Arizona law requires homeopaths to have at least 300 hours of additional training after their MD or DO education, with at least 40 hours in classical homeopathy, Ms. Springer said.
Mr. Downey was asked if complaints regarding homeopathic care are investigated solely by the Homeopathic Board.
No, not necessarily, he said. Under this administration, we do a preliminary review to determine whether a complaint against a doctor with a dual license involves allopathic medicine He or she must make a right diagnosis regardless of treatment modality and must recognize when the treatment is failing.
Once you are an allopathic physician, you have an allopathic duty to meet one that doesnt go away even if you see patients as a homeopath, he said.
Mr. Downey said the Medical Board also might take a look at informed consent when an MD changes a patients treatment from one homeopathic method to another. Under standards for all physicians, when a doctor determines that a treatment is failing, he or she must do one of three things: recheck the diagnosis; change the treatment method, or refer to another physician.
Mr. Downey says an MD who only practices homeopathy may come to Arizona from another state and set up practice without a license from the Medical Board.
He may only practice homeopathic medicine, Mr. Downey said. But again, should there be a complaint lodged against the doctor, the Arizona Medical Board would do a review to determine whether there were allopathic issues.
The Medical Board would not know which of its licensed MDs practice only homeopathic medicine, Mr. Downey said.
The Medical and Osteopathic boards, however, would be notified when an MDs or DOs homeopathic license is revoked, but that does not mean the other medical licenses would be revoked.
We would have to do an independent investigation Mr. Downey said. There is no automatic revocation in the statutes.
Ms. Springer of the Homeopathic Board said a homeopath who loses his or her MD or DO license does not automatically forfeit the homeopathic license. But if theres a hint of scandal, they will not receive a homeopathic license.
The Medical Board this year reprimanded homeopathic physician Mary C. Michelis, M.D., for failing to disclose on her license renewal application that she was under investigation by the California Medical Board. Her homeopathic license expired last year.
The Osteopathic Board in 1987 suspended the DO license of Lloyd D. Arnold for instructing unlicensed office personnel to administer intravenous medications in his absence. The license was reinstated in 2002, and Dr. Arnold has a homeopathic practice in Glendale.
The Homeopathic Board revoked the licenses of Drs. Harvey Bigelson and Abram Ber, and the Medical Board Web site shows they have not held active licenses since 1984 and 1982, respectively.
Last November, Jeffrey Rutgard, who served five years in a California prison after being convicted of bilking Medicare, received a license from the Homeopathic Board, but is listed as on probation with that board. His license with the Medical Board was revoked.
Two San Diego physicians convicted on tax charges, Drs. Rick Shacket and Robert Rowen, hold active licenses with the Homeopathic Board, but Dr. Rowens license with the Medical Board is inactive. The Medical Board had no information on Dr. Shacket.
Convicted earlier this year on multiple securities fraud felonies, a physician whose Arizona homeopathic license has expired is a practicing osteopath in Mesa.
The Medical Board has no record of Dr. Charles Crosby, who is licensed by the Homeopathic Board, but has until next month to undergo a mental evaluation to prove his competency.
Homeopathic board members themselves have been the subject of investigations, The Republic reported.
Dr. Gary Gordon was accused in 2001 of sexual harassment by a female patient, but the board voted not to act on the complaint. Neither the Medical Board nor the Osteopathic Board had any records on Dr. Gordon.
The case of homeopath Annemarie Welch in 2003 brought about a jurisdictional argument between the Homeopathic and Medical boards. She was the subject of a complaint from a woman who suffered kidney failure after the doctor treated her infected blister with vitamin C therapy.
The Homeopathic Board took control of the case and dismissed the complaint. The Medical Board also conducted an investigation and found no wrongdoing.
The Homeopathic Board lists 115 practicing homeopaths in Arizona, 75 of who also practice allopathic medicine. Ms. Springer says the board handles 15-20 complaints per year.
She said her office has not received one call from the public about The Republic investigation of the board, which included criticism from a former public member.
There have been doctors that theyve licensed that I wouldnt send my worst enemy to, former board member Anna Prosser told the newspaper.
Said Ms. Springer, Were scrutinizing our procedures regarding where the public members are coming from. She said her personal opinion is that the board would not object to having another member from the public.
Lawmaker calls for special audit
Sen. Carolyn Allen, R-8, chairman of the Senate Health Committee, has called for a special audit of the Homeopathic Board, which has revoked only two licenses in its 23-year history, The Republic reported.
The Osteopathic Board has had its problems since state audits several years ago showed various financial problems and slowness in completing investigations. Mr. Confer, the boards executive director, said the Legislature cut back the boards funding, and it now operates with five employees, down from eight.
Were still recovering from it, he said.
The Osteopathic Board lists 1,700 active licenses and had 225 open cases as of Oct. 13.
The Medical Board, which has come under recent criticism for its backlog of cases and high staff turnover, oversees licenses of 17,500 physicians, around 10,000 of who practice in Arizona. As of Sept. 19, the board was investigating 266 complaints.
On Oct. 12, the board issued a news release that it had resolved 72 cases on this months agenda and responded to an Arizona Capitol Times article in which fired employees complained about the boards management and lack of experienced medical consultants.
Rebuilding processes are never smooth, board chairman Dr. Robert Goldfarb said. Theyre never easy There are bumps along the way.
Board member Dr. Ram Krishna said, We have very, very competent medical consultants now.
