Dr. Rashid Buttar Granted New Disciplinary Hearing · 2009-02-24 14:30

In an abundance of caution, the North Carolina Medical Board has ordered a new hearing in the disciplinary action against Dr. Rashid Buttar, D.O., a practitioner of “integrative medicine” well known for his promotion of chelation and other unproven therapies for autism, cancer, chronic fatigue syndrome and other conditions.

Charges were filed against Dr. Buttar in November 2007. The original complaint described his testing and treatment of four cancer patients according to an “indistinguishable or arbitrary protocol” having “no recognized scientific evidence of any validity whatsoever” and “no rational relationship” to individual patients’ diagnoses. The Board sought to revoke or limit Dr. Buttar’s license to practice medicine, arguing that his actions were unprofessional, unethical, ineffective, and financially exploitive.

In reply, Dr. Buttar asserted that he had made no claims to cure cancer with his treatments; that his patients had signed consent forms admitting that he had made no such claims; that he could produce scientific evidence of the efficacy of his treatments; that his treatments posed no safety risks greater than prevailing treatments; that all diagnostic tests performed were medically indicated; that he adequately supervised the nurse-practitioner who frequently attended his patients in his absence; and that he was justified in his efforts to collect payment from surviving family members of patients who died while under his care.

A hearing before the Board’s disciplinary panel was held in April 2008. In addition to considering statements from physicians, patients and their family members, the Board heard the testimony of a Michigan mother who sought out Dr. Buttar to treat her autistic eight-year-old daughter for suspected heavy metal toxicity. No office visit was required to become a patient. Although the mother paid $3,000 for Dr. Buttar’s medical services, at no time did he examine her daughter; rather, nurse-practitioner Jane Garcia conducted all telephone consultations and made all treatment recommendations, including the recommendation to abruptly discontinue the child’s anti-anxiety medication without informing her pediatrician. As chelation progressed, the girl became anxious, restless and unable to sleep or eat properly. The mother reported these developments, only to be told by Ms. Garcia that “this was to be expected,” and that she should persist with chelation and nutritional supplementation. After several months of increasingly worsening regression, the mother made an appointment to see Dr. Buttar, and traveled from Michigan to North Carolina with her daughter for that purpose. When they arrived at his office, however, they were seen only by Ms. Garcia, who did not conduct an examination, but recommended a more aggressive intravenous form of chelation therapy. Unpersuaded, mother and daughter returned to Michigan; the girl improved significantly after discontinuing chelation. (The mother contacted the Medical Board after receiving an email from Dr. Buttar informing her of the disciplinary action and soliciting her support.)

In September 2008, Dr. Buttar moved for a mistrial, arguing that a former Board chairman’s provision of documents to an investigator during a break in the hearing constituted a legally impermissible and prejudicial ex parte communication. Supportive and responsive briefs were filed the following month and considered at the next full meeting of the Board, which was held on January 21, 2009.

On January 30, presiding officer Janelle A. Rhyne, M.D. issued a new order authorizing the Board to reissue its Notice of Charges and Allegations and conduct a new hearing.

Pending resolution of the matter, Dr. Buttar continues to practice without restrictions. In addition to maintaining a clinic website, he has established http://www.drbuttartruth.com, featuring commentary on and transcripts of the disciplinary hearings against him, and http://www.themedicalseries.com, offering DVD’s of his presentations on cancer, heavy metal toxicity, autism and other subjects. Through his American Medical Education and Physician Services Association, Dr. Buttar offers professional seminars on techniques for maximizing income through sales of “prescription nutraceuticals,” “dermaceuticals” and “innovative cutting edge medical treatments.” Through his tax-exempt AMESPA Children’s Foundation, he solicits donations to underwrite his research and treatment of children with autism and cancer.

The next meeting of the North Carolina Medical Board is scheduled for March 18-20, 2009.

Comments


  1. The guy has brass balls, I’ll give him that.

    — Anne    2009-02-24 16:01    #

  2. “Although the mother paid $3,000 for Dr. Buttar’s medical services, at no time did he examine her daughter; rather, nurse-practitioner Jane Garcia conducted all telephone consultations and made all treatment recommendations, including the recommendation to abruptly discontinue the child’s anti-anxiety medication without informing her pediatrician. As chelation progressed, the girl became anxious, restless and unable to sleep or eat properly. The mother reported these developments, only to be told by Ms. Garcia that “this was to be expected,” and that she should persist with chelation and nutritional supplementation. After several months of increasingly worsening regression, the mother made an appointment to see Dr. Buttar, and traveled from Michigan to North Carolina with her daughter for that purpose. When they arrived at his office, however, they were seen only by Ms. Garcia, who did not conduct an examination, but recommended a more aggressive intravenous form of chelation therapy. Unpersuaded, mother and daughter returned to Michigan; the girl improved significantly after discontinuing chelation.”

    That is, to say the very least, appalling practice! No examination has been made at any stage of the proceedings; an abrupt change were made to the child’s medication regime without informing (let alone referring to) the prescribing physician; an unproven (and wholly unnecessary) treatment was prescribed and implemented; despite expectable improvement in condition after discontinuing chelation, Butter still sends a letter asking the mother for her support in a disciplinary hearing to be held against him!

    I’m surprised this idiot medic hasn’t been hung out to bloody dry, let alone been suspended from practising! And even that hasn’t happened.

    What’s going on there in North Carolina?

    — David Andrews M. Ed. (Distinction)    2009-02-25 04:31    #

  3. When is the new hearing set to start?

    — Deyo    2009-05-07 16:13    #