Cancer patients in New York might be surprised to learn that, since 1970, a doctor has been treating patients with antineoplastons, for which there is insufficient evidence to prove that they work. Despite being backed by actress Suzanne Somers and famous surgeon Dr. Oz, the Texas Medical Board has investigated the doctor, and he could lose his license for medical misconduct.
Cancer patients in New York might be surprised to learn that, since 1970, a doctor has been treating patients with antineoplastons, for which there is insufficient evidence to prove that they work. Despite being backed by actress Suzanne Somers and famous surgeon Dr. Oz, the Texas Medical Board has investigated the doctor, and he could lose his license for medical misconduct.
Although he is not a trained oncologist, the doctor has used the drugs to treat more than 2,300 cancer patients. Antineoplastons are groups of amino acids, amino acid derivatives and peptides that the doctor isolated from blood and urine. Since the 1990s, his numerous FDA-approved clinical trials have resulted in at least six deaths from high sodium levels in the blood. Since it has become harder for him to register patients in antineoplaston trials, he has started providing cancer treatments outside of the mainstream, administering combinations of chemotherapy drugs that are not scientifically tested and pose a threat to patients.
In its argument for the doctor’s license to be revoked, the Texas Medical Board states that the doctor and clinical staff have misled patients, drawing them to the clinic with a guarantee that they will be included in antineoplaston trials despite knowing that they will not qualify. It believes that the patients have either been at risk of considerable toxicity or have suffered significant toxicity effects because of the doctor’s actions. The board also claims that the doctor and staff told the patients that they would receive antineoplastons but ordered other treatments and charged large retainers.
When patients are hurt because of medical negligence, they may be eligible for medical malpractice compensation for pain and suffering. They could also be compensated for extra medical expenses and other damages that are related to the negligence.
