neck. Clinic that Treated Coretta Scott King Closed MEXICO: Mexican health officials shut down th alternative medicine clinic where Coretta Scott King died, in early February, saying the doctors there were using unproven treatments and were never licensed to run a full-service hospital. The clinic's founder. Dr. Kurt Donsbach. is a chiropractor with "a long history of run-ins with the law in the United States over claims he has made about nutritional supplements he developed and sold." He has operated the clinic, known as the Hospital Santa Monica, since 1987, without any interference from the Baja California state authorities. It offers people with cancer and other chronic diseases a range of unorthodox treatments, from intravenous infusions of hydrogen peroxide and vitamins, to ozone saunas, to something he calls microchemotherapy—small doses of cancer-fighting drugs administered with glucose. King was suffering from advanced ovarian cancer when she arrived at the clinic on January 26. She died a little over a week later. The cause of death was listed as respiratory and heart failure, although no autopsy was done and the doctor who signed the certificate is on the clinic's staff. The state health commissioner said that state inspectors visited the clinic last June and had found everything in order. But, after a new visit on February 3. inspectors decided to close the clinic. Dr. Donsbach, who has been variously referred to as "a visionary," "a true pioneer in wholistic medicine," "a quack" (Guess who?), "a scammer," and "The Father of Oral Chelation." has been generally unavailable for comment. The Rev. Bernice King, Coretta Scott King's eldest daughter, in the eulogy for her mother at her memorial service, said, "My mother chose alternative methods because the traditional ways didn't work. Just like my father, she refused to settle for the status quo." Associate Press Check those X-Rays, Doctors SOUTH CAROLINA: Dr. Kevin Bernhardv is being sued by a patient who claims he injured her during an adjustment. The Cherokee County resident first sought chiropractic care from Bernhardy in 2001 for pain in her lower and middle back. She saw the doctor on multiple occasions in 2001, throughout 2002, and in January and February of 2003, according to a complaint filed at the Cherokee County Courthouse. On Feb. 10. 2003. Bemhardv adiusted her "The adjustment was performed in a negligent or grossly negligent manner and resulted in the plaintiff feeling immediate and extreme pain...," according to the complaint. The patient was seen at Upstate Carolina Medical Center on Feb. 13 and was diagnosed as having a herniated disk, an injury that was noticeable on X-ravs. the complaint states. The patient underwent surgery and is suing for actual and punitive damages. The Gaffney Ledger Scoliosis Treatment Center Owner Charged with Fraud LOUISIANA: In late February, Arthur Copes, owner of the Scoliosis Treatment Recovery System Clinic, in Baton Rouge, surrendered to LA Attorney General Special Agents in late February on 117 counts of insurance fraud for his alleged involvement in a medical billing insurance scam and practicing medicine without a license. Copes claims to have developed a back brace and treatment system that is successful in the treatment of scoliosis. The clinic is now closed. According to the AG's Special Agents, Copes allegedly treated patients and then sent bills to insurance companies indicating they had been treated by a licensed chiropractor. However, according to the Louisiana Board of Chiropractors. Copes is not a licensed chiropractor. Special Agents allege that Copes performed all the treatment on scoliosis patients as though he were a licensed chiropractor. Special Agents further allege that, even though Copes performed all of the treatment, he submitted numerous bills to insurance companies using the names and signatures of licensed chiropractors, without their knowledge and in many cases long after they had left the clinic. The AG's office said Special Agents learned that the patients were charged a large sum of money, up to $ 10,000 in one case, and advised that their insurance company would cover a certain percentage of the cost of the treatment. Special Agents estimate that Copes allegedly fraudulently billed insurance companies over S138,000. Copes faces a possible sentence of five years and/or a $5.000 fine per count on the charges of insurance fraud. The possible sentence for practicing medicine without a license carries a possible sentence of a fine not more than S3.000 or prison for not more than three months, or both, and each day a violation continues is considered a separate offense. Insurance Journal, com Pass on the information to warn other D. C. 's about events that are really happening to chiropractors. When you see a " yellow page " article in your local, regional, or national newspaper about chiropractic or a fellow chiropractor, fax. e-mail or mail it to us at TAC. For further information, fax: I-305-716-9212 or see page 4 for our mailing address.
