The Lymenet Europe has some old information, which help put together the pieces.
An important source is the Web Archive, see this archive area:
http://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.wholehealth1.com/*Most of the longer URLs in the Lymnet Europe site are spoiled. SInce it is too much work to repair them all, I did not try to repair them. So: Go to the original site and read there.
http://www.lymeneteurope.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=4097[*QUOTE*]
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LymeNet Europe
information and discussion about Lyme disease
Bogus LD Treatment Nearly Kills Woman in U.S.34 posts • Page 1 of 4 • 1234
Bogus LD Treatment Nearly Kills Woman in U.S.
by RitaA » Wed 15 Aug 2012 5:32
http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/W ... 06466.html
Unlicensed Doc.'s Treatment Nearly Kills Woman: FBI
By Lauren Steussy| Tuesday, Aug 14, 2012 | Updated 8:03 PM PDT
| Tuesday, Aug 14, 2012 | Updated 8:03 PM PDT
A woman believed to be diagnosing and treating patients out of an Encinitas facility was arrested Monday on suspicion of practicing medicine without a license.
Kathleen Ann Helms, 57, allegedly operated a business called BrightHouse Wellness, in which she advised at least one patient to undergo an expensive IV treatment, according to a statement from the Federal Bureau of Investigations.
The treatment left the woman severely injured. She had to be placed in an assisted living facility as a result of the treatment, the statement said.
Helms is accused of charging over $30,000 for a cocktail of treatments, which included an injection of animal stem cells and an IV drip of Dimethyl Sulfoxide, an anti-inflammatory solvent.
One of the victims filed an affidavit in the case, the FBI said. The female victim told investigators that after being diagnosed by Helms with Lyme disease, she was sent to Tijuana for an insertion of a PICC line that would deliver the medicine.
After three visits to the Tijuana facility, the patient told investigators she went back to Helms' office, where Helms injected her with more of the medicine for seven hours. Helms repeated the treatment three more times.
On the evening of the last treatment, the victim became extremely sick.
She went to the hospital and was told her organs were shutting down and she had just six weeks to live.
The victim survived, but was placed into a skilled nursing home and later in an assisted living facility. Her condition is not known at this time.
The FBI believes there may be other victims in this case, which is being prosecuted by the San Diego County District Attorney's Office.
Anyone who believes they may be a victim in this matter is encouraged to contact the FBI at (858) 565-1255.
http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/aug ... arly-dies/
Written by
Kristina Davis
6:48 p.m., Aug. 14, 2012
Updated 7:17 p.m.
FBI: Fake doctor arrested after patient nearly dies
ENCINITAS — A woman who billed herself as a doctor of naturopathy at her Encinitas clinic is facing felony charges of practicing medicine without a license after one of her patients nearly died following controversial treatments, the FBI said Tuesday.
Kathleen Ann Helms, 57, was arrested Monday in Encinitas and was being held on $400,000 bail. She is expected to be arraigned Wednesday in San Diego Superior Court.
The FBI and California Medical Board began investigating Helms after receiving complaints about her practice,
BrightHouse Wellness Center, on El Camino Real in Encinitas, said FBI Special Agent Darrell Foxworth.
She runs a similar clinic in Oak Park, Ill.
Helms is accused of diagnosing patients with Lyme disease and advising them to undergo expensive alternative health treatments involving the infusion of dimethyl sulfoxide, or DMSO, as well as injections of animal cells and a regimen of vitamins. The disease is a bacterial infection spread by tick bites and is usually treated with antibiotics in the early stages.
Authorities said she told at least one patient that she herself had been paralyzed with Lyme disease, but she was now able to walk and dance due to the miraculous treatments.
Foxworth said court records show Helms diagnosed one woman with the disease after examining a sample of blood under a microscope in April. Helms directed the patient to a man in Tijuana to have a peripherally inserted central line installed in the patient’s arm, so Helms could administer the infusions. The woman suffered several complications with the installation of the line and had to return to Mexico three times to correct the problems.
The woman agreed to pay Helms $30,000 for the infusions, Foxworth said. The woman was hooked to an IV at Helms’ office and infused with four bags of DMSO, as well as injected with cell stems in the stomach — a seven-hour procedure, he said.
The woman returned three more times for similar treatments.
The evening of the last procedure, the patient became seriously ill at home and was rushed to the emergency room, where doctors told her she had hours to live because her organs were shutting down, Foxworth said.
She survived, and after six weeks in the hospital was transferred to a skilled-nursing facility and later an assisted-living facility.
Investigators believe there may be more victims.One patient referenced in court records told investigators that Helms diagnosed him with Lyme disease and recommended the treatments, but an independent laboratory that ran another test told him he was not sick, Foxworth said.
On the clinic’s website, under the name Dr. Catherine Bright-Helms, she writes that she began researching natural medicine after she broke her back at 23 and was later diagnosed with bone cancer. She lists several credentials and medical certifications.
Anyone who believes they may be a victim is asked to call the FBI at (858) 565-1255 or the medical board at (916) 263-2382.Edited to add:
http://www.sandiego6.com/news/local/FBI ... 2456.html#
FBI: Encinitas' BrightHouse Wellness Director a False Doctor
By Mike Wille
Story Published: Aug 14, 2012 at 8:19 PM PDT
(Story Updated: Aug 14, 2012 at 8:19 PM PDT )
SANTEE (CNS) - An Encinitas woman was behind bars Tuesday for allegedly practicing medicine without a license, leaving a Lyme disease patient severely ill.
Federal agents and detectives with the California Medical Board arrested Kathleen Ann Helms, 57, late Monday afternoon, according to the FBI.
Authorities began investigating Helms, also known as Catherine Bright-Helms, based on complaints to the state Medical Board accusing her of falsely representing herself as a doctor of naturopathy in Encinitas and Oak Park, Ill.
Helms, who operated a business called BrightHouse Wellness on North El Camino Real in Encinitas, allegedly had been diagnosing Lyme disease patients and advising them to undergo a treatment plan that involved the infusion of dimethyl sulfoxide, injections of animal cells and taking vitamins, the FBI reported.
According to an affidavit in the case, Helms diagnosed a patient with the inflammatory illness after examining a sample of blood under a microscope, then prescribed a treatment plan that included shots of bovine stem cells from Germany.
Helms directed the patient to go to a Tijuana hospital to have a peripherally inserted central line put into one of her arms so Helms could give treatments intravenously. The patient agreed to pay $300 for the insertion of the line and $30,000 for the treatment Helms recommended.
The patient suffered multiple complications with the insertion of the line and had to return to Tijuana three times to make the line functional.
The patient subsequently returned to Helms' office, where she was hooked to an IV and infused with four bags of dimethyl sulfoxide, an experimental medicinal solvent, and two stem-cell injections in the stomach. The treatment session took about seven hours, according to the FBI.
The patient returned to Helms' office three more times and underwent a similar regime of care that included infusions and injections. On the evening of the last treatment, the woman became seriously ill at home and was taken to an emergency room and immediately placed in an intensive-care unit.
The patient initially was told she only had hours to live because her organs were shutting down, but ultimately was hospitalized for six weeks, then placed into a skill-nursing facility and later an assisted-living facility.
Investigators believe there are other victims in the case.
Helms was booked into Las Colinas women's jail in Santee. She was scheduled to be arraigned in downtown San Diego on Wednesday afternoon.
Last edited by RitaA on Wed 15 Aug 2012 6:36, edited 1 time in total.
RitaA
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Re: Bogus LD Treatment Nearly Kills Woman in U.S.
by RitaA » Wed 15 Aug 2012 5:48
I'm not sure how long these are going to be available, so I've done a cut-and-paste of the contents:http://www.wholehealth1.com/http://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.wholehealth1.com/*Now offering our line of pharmaceutical grade supplements and minerals available for purchase here on the web site.
Click on "Natural Store" above to visit our store. Find out why Doctors and Patients alike are switching to our "Doctor's Preferred"™ brand.
Welcome to the BrightHouse Wellness Center
(224) 520-0012
"Providing you with the finest in natural health care."
Whether you are sick, chronically ill, or are just looking to reach a better stage of health, you're in the right place. We specialize in not only helping people treat their ailments naturally but to help change their life dynamics and keep them healthy for years to come. Our clinic uses only natural medicine and herb alternatives, no pills or prescriptions here. We believe it is our duty to help educate and cleanse all who are seeking help but often shunned by traditional doctors.
At the center, you will be seen by Dr. Catherine Bright-Helms N.D., who will work closely with you and/or your family to bring you to the fullest stage of health possible. For more information about the "doc", please visit her page by clicking here.
Please feel free to browse the site to learn more about what we have to offer. The services page has a list of every treatment offerred, such as foot baths, massages, and aroma spa, as well as pricing.
We hope to make this site as informative and educational as possible. With the abundance of information on natural health out there, it's Sometimes hard to decipher fact from quack. We hope that this site might change all that for you. Wholehealth1.com is your one stop natural health mega site.
If you have any questions or concerns don't hesitate to send an e-mail. We are here to help.
Before proceeding any further, and by using this information you agree to have read, understand and accept the Disclaimer
We have 2 locations for your convenience.
715 Lake Street # 706 Oak Park IL
317 N. El Camino Real # 112 Encinitas CA 92024
http://www.wholehealth1.com/TheDochttp://web.archive.org/web/20120803031945/http://www.wholehealth1.com/TheDoc"My ultimate goal is to bring you and your family to the best health possible and keep it there."
Dear Friends,
Hello all, and Welcome to the BrightHouse Wellness Center homepage. If you've found me, then that must mean you are seeking help. Well good news, you are in the right place. I am here to help all of you. It has been my duty for the past 7 years to help heal people naturally. Over those years I've seen just about every kind of ailment you can think of and treated them naturally, using techniques I have refined through practice. Including people who were "left for dead", yet with my guidance and their hard work, all of them are alive and well today.
"First hand experience is what drives me and provides me with real knowledge."
I too was once in the same boat. Told the answers I least wanted to hear by traditional doctors and no place to turn. At only the age of 23, I sufferred a broken back and was told by traditional doctors I would never walk again. That is a devastating ordeal to go through. But I knew there HAD to be another choice deep down. I HAD to walk again, for my family and myself.
At this point, I had no options. I had to take my health into my own hands if I was ever to recover. So I immediately began researching everything I could about natural medicine. I practiced with different remedies and tonics. Went through countless exercises and techniques to help me walk again. It was a long and hard road but it paid off. I am living proof today that all my techniques are effective and just how powerful the healing power of the body is. My cancer went into remission, and sure enough, after years of telling myself EVERYDAY I would walk again, the love of my son, and hard work, I took my first step in 5 years. I've been perfectly fine walking ever since.
In 1998, I was hit with another bomb and diagnosed with Bone cancer. However this time, after dealing with my back injury I was better "prepared". I traveled across the country seeing different naturopathic doctors to help me. With their help and practicing naturopathy, I rid myself the cancer. Now 9 years later, I stand completely cancer free.
After realizing the healing power of the body, I knew that helping other people was the answer for me. As much as I had went through and the battles I had with the doctors, I knew it was my place to become a natural health practictioner. For a full list of my credentials, please click here. So that's what I set out to do. I received my doctorate in natural medicine, and became a natural health practicioner. I've been helping people ever since.
"It takes change and hard work."
Depending on your level of illness, it will be a hard road but ever so worth the journey. So no matter your level of illness, don't fret, I at one time thought my life was over just as you may. There is help and there is a path to being healthy again.
Best Wishes,
Dr. Catherine Bright-Helms N.D., M.H., C.N.C.,
BrightHouse Wellness Center
317 N. El Camino Real # 112 Encinitas CA 92024
or
715 Lake Street # 706 Oak Park IL
(224) 520-0012
http://www.wholehealth1.com/Credentialshttp://web.archive.org/web/20120803030854/http://www.wholehealth1.com/CredentialsCredentials
Along with her Doctorate in Naturopathy, she also holds degrees in the following: Herbology ( Master Herbalist, M.H.) and Nutrition ( Certified Nutritionist, C.N.C.).
She is currently certified by the National Association of Certified Natural Health Professionals and is a good standing member of the American Naturopathic Medical Association.
She is also a member of the International Association for Colon HydroTherapy, I-ACT.
Further certifications include: Blood Morphology, Iridology, Applied Kinesology, Psycho Kinesology, HydroColon Therapy, and Orthomolecular Medicine.
Practice in Action
Over the years, I have work with all facets of people. The "predicted to be dead in X amount of months", the "less critical" (I.E., people who have problems they cant solve, constant migraines, pain, etc.), and even people who are "healthy" by our society's standards.
http://www.inspire.com/futurbnk/journal ... e-disease/
Beating Lyme Disease
By futurbnk · June 19, 2010 at 5:11 pm
Hi All,
I am a Naturopathic Doctor that was infected with Lyme Disease over 7 years ago. A very severe case of it - in fact I went paralyzed from the neck down and suffered all the symtpoms of the people in the movie "Under our Skin" I have worked with and studied under some of the top alternative Lyme octors in the country and I can tell you I am dancing today. I am very careful daily with all things and with my mental attitude. Even though I am dancing again I do not underestimate the power of the possibility of return. I have found a new, healthier way of life and am able to help all those in need of kicking this unGodly disease. Life is vastly more beautiful now and I am a much better guardian of myself at being disciplined and diligent in doing the right things that common man is able to do without having to spend a great deal of money and get no answers. I am here for you. email or call me Dr. Catherine Bright-Helms ND, MH, CNC
While I believe in the presumption of innocence, I also believe in the right for people to be informed of possible wrongdoing by health care providers. This is especially true if patients have been or are currently being treated by an individual who is suspected of causing harm.
RitaA
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Re: Bogus LD Treatment Nearly Kills Woman in U.S.
by RitaA » Wed 15 Aug 2012 7:46
There are two separate sections (on pages 7 and 12) regarding Catherine Bright Helms in the document about the next Physician's Round Table Conference to be held January 23 to 27, 2013. The content is apparently strictly protected by copyright laws, so I'm only providing the link:
http://www.peerobservationsmagazine.com/pdf/2013prt.pdfThe second section (on page 12) includes a brief statement about Catherine Bright Helms learning about Lyme disease from Drs. Robert Bradford and Dietrich Klinghardt -- among others.
I don't recall coming across the Peer Observations Magazine before now -- despite there being a Canadian connection to the Physician's Round Table as mentioned in the following link.
http://peerobservationsmagazine.com/demo/about/RitaA
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Re: Bogus LD Treatment Nearly Kills Woman in U.S.
by Bagge » Wed 15 Aug 2012 14:41
RitaA wrote:
There are two separate sections (on pages 7 and 12) regarding Catherine Bright Helms in the document about the next Physician's Round Table Conference to be held January 23 to 27, 2013. The content is apparently strictly protected by copyright laws, so I'm only providing the link:
http://www.peerobservationsmagazine.com/pdf/2013prt.pdfThe second section (on page 12) includes a brief statement about Catherine Bright Helms learning about Lyme disease from Drs. Robert Bradford and Dietrich Klinghardt -- among others.
I don't recall coming across the Peer Observations Magazine before now -- despite there being a Canadian connection to the Physician's Round Table as mentioned in the following link.
http://peerobservationsmagazine.com/demo/about/'Others' appears to include His Eminence and many other well-known and not so well-known but vocal Lyme leaders and testing labs, 'Lyme-literate' home infusion companies, and supplement companies. More of your fine associates, Sir? Does His Eminence support and refer patients to this type of dangerous treatment?
.
Bagge
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Re: Bogus LD Treatment Nearly Kills Woman in U.S.
by RitaA » Wed 15 Aug 2012 18:57
One of Catherine Bright Helm's mentors (as described on page 12 of the pdf) was Dr. Renee Welhouse -- a healthcare practitioner who dispensed questionable medical advice:
http://quackfiles.blogspot.com/2005/11/ ... th-of.html
Daughter Wants Answers About Death of Mother
Betty Harlan
Thu 11/03/2005 -
76 year old Betty Harlan lived with multiple health problems including a leaky heart valve and diabetes that led to a leg ulcer. In January, one of Harlan's doctors said the ulcer was so bad, the leg may have to be amputated. Harlan wanted a second opinion, but instead of seeking a traitional medical opinion, her daughter Laura brought her here to the Wellhouse Center in Windsor.
"They said if you make some changes you will probably see improvements, and within a week she was making continual progress." Says daughter Laura Lee.
Over the next several months, Harlan signed on for multiple services...
including detoxifying foot baths for 65 dollars each, multiple sessions in the hyberbaric oxygen chamber - at 35 dollars each, saliva analysis - 50 dollars...
a retreat, including colon cleansing, 600 dollars, and Harlan spent hundreds on wellhouse brand herbs, oils, and moisturizers. In less than four months, she had spent more than 8 thousand dollars out of pocket. Daughter Laura says - it was worth it.
"My husband and I told her, Mom if this is what you want to do, we support you. you're seeing progress, you're feeling better." Lee says. She documented her mother's progress and says her mother's leg ulcer was healing, and her spirits were improving.
But not all of Betty Harlan's family members were so enthusiastic. Laura's sister Linda Harlan Post says her mother stopped taking all of her doctor prescribed medications and believed her leaky heart valve was healed - and her diabetes - was gone.
"We tried to encourage her to see someone else just for peace of mind for the family and she basically told us this was working and really to stay out of it." Post says. She believed her mother's health problems were getting worse.
On May 9th, Betty Harlan died.
"The day she passed away, she had come home from treatment in a wheelchair. She wasn't able to stand on her own." Post says.
Since there was no autopsy, there is no way to know exactly what caused Harlan's death, but her vascular surgeon, who last saw her a month before she died, says she didn't look good. Dr. Bill Evans of Wisconsin Heart says Harlan looked bloated and the ulcer appeared infected. He, in part, blamed the lack of medication.
"I expressed to her at length that that her leg did not appear to be making much progress, that she appeared to be much more swollen all over, she didn;t appear to have control over her fluid balance, and I shared with her that some of her previous medications that no longer taking those how they could be adversely affecting her." Dr. Evans says.
He says Harlan told him, on the advice of a new "quote" doctor... she was taking herbs instead.
Renee Welhouse tells 27 news she would never tell a patient to go against their Doctor's advice, and stop taking medications, even though she believes many medications contain toxins that taken in the long term, can be detrimental to your health.
"I do not diagnose, treat or cure anybody.that is strictly for the medical community. I am a classic, traditional naturopath." Says Welhouse. She is the Wellhouse center founder, and herself a cancer survivor.
At the Center, Welhouse told us of several cases of female clients who she claims showed significant improvement from breast cancer, by following her advice, and changing their lifestyle.
Still, Welhouse says she does not cure.
"If people made lifestyle changes and they get better - i just consider it a gift from God." Welhouse says. She admits, much of her schooling is by correspondence course, but according to the state, naturopathic doctors don't need any training at all.
"Naturopaths are not licensed by the state." Says Eric Callisto of the Department of Regulation and Licensing. He says they have investigated the Wellhouse Center 11 times in 13 years for allegations of fraud and practicing medicine without a license, but no action was taken.
"For the most part, the practitioners in this area are fairly well-versed in the law and recognize where that line is and where they can cross it and more importantly when they can't cross it." Callisto said.
He declined to say whether the Wellhouse Center is currently being investigated, but said for a Naturopath to tell a client to stop taking prescribed medications would probably be crossing the line into practicing medicine.
The Wellhouse Center apparently closed its doors in 2008 after its founder died in a 2007 car accident:
http://www.prweb.com/releases/2007/07/prweb538994.htmDr. Renee Welhouse did have her supporters, including the person who wrote this:
http://www.mndaily.com/2010/02/14/alter ... t-quackery
At least some naturopathic doctors in Canada go through 4 years of medical training, and I don't personally believe that all naturopathic doctors are quacks (in case anyone is wondering):
http://www.ccnm.edu/The Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine (CCNM) is Canada's premier institute for education and research in naturopathic medicine. CCNM offers a rigorous four-year, full-time doctor of naturopathic medicine program.
CCNM is also home to the Robert Schad Naturopathic Clinic, a dynamic naturopathic teaching clinic where senior clinicians and ND supervisors conduct more than 26,000 patient visits per year.
The Association of Accredited Naturopathic Medical Colleges provides a lot of useful information related to naturopathic doctors on their website. Five provinces and only 17 states currently license naturopathic physicians as described here:
http://www.aanmc.org/naturopathic-medic ... ne-faq.php
Q: Why doesn’t the AANMC represent any online programs?
A: The AANMC believes that becoming a naturopathic physician is not something that can adequately be accomplished through an online or correspondence course. Physicians carry an awesome responsibility, and must be trained accordingly. Physicians diagnose and treat diseases, and any mistakes that they make can have major repercussions for their patients. A physician’s education and training must adequately qualify them for this role. It is a major undertaking requiring years of academic preparation and hands-on clinical experience.
Naturopathic medical students at accredited ND colleges study the same core medical sciences as MD students; they receive many hours of supervised clinical training, learning to diagnose disease and gaining experience treating patients.
RitaA
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Re: Bogus LD Treatment Nearly Kills Woman in U.S.
by RitaA » Thu 16 Aug 2012 3:40
http://encinitas.patch.com/articles/enc ... hoto-first
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Encinitas Woman Pleads Not Guilty to Charges of Practicing Medicine Without a License
Kathleen Ann Helms is facing 11 felony charges for allegedly posing as a doctor, according to the FBI.
4:44 pm
An Encinitas woman accused of practicing medicine without a license, leaving a muscular sclerosis patient severely ill, pleaded not guilty today to 11 felony charges.
Kathleen Ann Helms, 57, was ordered held in lieu of $250,000 bail.
Deputy District Attorney Gina Darvas said two people treated by Helms filed complaints with the California Medical Board, prompting an investigation by the FBI.
The complaining witnesses claimed Helms, also known as Catherine Bright- Helms, falsely represented herself as a doctor of naturopathy in Encinitas and Oak Park, Ill.
“She tells people that she's a doctor; she in fact told the victims that she was an M.D.; she's not,” Darvas said outside court. “She doesn't have a license in California to practice medicine or any form of allopathic or alternative medicine. She claimed to be an expert in Lyme disease.” Helms, who operated a business called BrightHouse Wellness on North El Camino Real in Encinitas, allegedly had been diagnosing patients with Lyme disease and advising them to undergo a treatment plan that involved the infusion of dimethyl sulfoxide, injections of animal cells and taking vitamins, according to the FBI.
According to an affidavit in the case, Helms diagnosed a patient with the inflammatory illness after looking at a sample of blood under a microscope, and then prescribed a treatment plan that included shots of bovine stem cells from Germany.
Helms allegedly directed the patient to go to a Tijuana hospital to have a peripherally inserted central line put into one of her arms so Helms could give treatments intravenously. The patient agreed to pay $300 for the insertion of the line and $30,000 for the treatment Helms recommended, according to the affidavit.
The patient suffered multiple complications with the insertion of the line and had to return to Tijuana three times to make the line functional, according to the FBI.
The patient subsequently returned to Helms' office, where she was hooked to an IV and infused with four bags of dimethyl sulfoxide, an experimental medicinal solvent, and two stem-cell injections in the stomach, the affidavit alleges. The treatment session took about seven hours, according to the FBI.
The patient returned to Helms' office three more times and underwent a similar regime that included infusions and injections. On the evening of the last treatment, the woman became seriously ill at home and was taken to an emergency room and immediately placed in an intensive-care unit, according to the affidavit.
The patient initially was told she only had hours to live because her organs were shutting down, but ultimately was hospitalized for six weeks, then placed into a skill-nursing facility and later an assisted-living facility, according to the FBI.
A man diagnosed by Helms with Lyme disease was suffering from prostate cancer, Darvas said, Each alleged victim—referred to Helms through other alternative practitioners—is out about $6,000, according to Darvas.
Helms is charged with multiple counts of treating the sick without a certificate and grand theft and faces nearly 13 years in prison if convicted. A bail review was scheduled Monday and a preliminary hearing for Aug. 28.
—City News Service
RitaA
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Re: Bogus LD Treatment Nearly Kills Woman in U.S.
by Bagge » Thu 16 Aug 2012 4:02
.
This is the censored version of thread showing the alleged bogus doctor being demoted from being an approved "LLND".
http://flash.lymenet.org/scripts/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=3;t=030853;p=0This is topic Fraud arrest: practicing w/o license in forum General Support at LymeNet Flash.
To visit this topic, use this URL:
http://flash.lymenet.org/ubb/ultimatebb.php/topic/3/30853Posted by Tracy9 (Member # 7521) on 08-15-2012 03:29 AM:
Anyone familiar with this doctor?
http://www.sandiego6.com/news/local/FBI-Encinitas-BrightHouse-Wellness-Director-a-False-Doctor-166212456.htmlBy Mike Wille
Story Published: Aug 14, 2012 at 8:19 PM PDT(Story Updated: Aug 14, 2012 at 8:19 PM PDT )
SANTEE (CNS) - An Encinitas woman was behind bars Tuesday for allegedly practicing medicine without a license, leaving a Lyme disease patient severely ill.
Federal agents and detectives with the California Medical Board arrested Kathleen Ann Helms, 57, late Monday afternoon, according to the FBI.
Authorities began investigating Helms, also known as Catherine Bright-Helms, based on complaints to the state Medical Board accusing her of falsely representing herself as a doctor of naturopathy in Encinitas and Oak Park, Ill.
Helms, who operated a business called BrightHouse Wellness on North El Camino Real in Encinitas, allegedly had been diagnosing Lyme disease patients and advising them to undergo a treatment plan that involved the infusion of dimethyl sulfoxide, injections of animal cells and taking vitamins, the FBI reported.
According to an affidavit in the case, Helms diagnosed a patient with the inflammatory illness after examining a sample of blood under a microscope, then prescribed a treatment plan that included shots of bovine stem cells from Germany.
Helms directed the patient to go to a Tijuana hospital to have a peripherally inserted central line put into one of her arms so Helms could give treatments intravenously. The patient agreed to pay $300 for the insertion of the line and $30,000 for the treatment Helms recommended.
The patient suffered multiple complications with the insertion of the line and had to return to Tijuana three times to make the line functional.
The patient subsequently returned to Helms' office, where she was hooked to an IV and infused with four bags of dimethyl sulfoxide, an experimental medicinal solvent, and two stem-cell injections in the stomach. The treatment session took about seven hours, according to the FBI.
The patient returned to Helms' office three more times and underwent a similar regime of care that included infusions and injections. On the evening of the last treatment, the woman became seriously ill at home and was taken to an emergency room and immediately placed in an intensive-care unit.
The patient initially was told she only had hours to live because her organs were shutting down, but ultimately was hospitalized for six weeks, then placed into a skill-nursing facility and later an assisted-living facility.
Investigators believe there are other victims in the case.
Helms was booked into Las Colinas women's jail in Santee. She was scheduled to be arraigned in downtown San Diego on Wednesday afternoon.
[ 08-15-2012, 03:08 PM: Message edited by: Lymetoo ]
----------------------------------
Posted by Robin123 (Member # 9197) on 08-15-2012 04:38 AM:
We have bona fide licensed naturopaths in CA, so there must be a problem with this one - very unfortunate story -
Posted by poppy (Member # 5355) on 08-15-2012 11:01 AM:
I wonder how many people who go to naturopaths actually ask about their credentials?
http://tiny.cc/0w72iwThis is the url for WebMD info on DMSO, which is what this patient was doing IV. I was amazed to learn that it had actual medical uses. But bovine stem cells!!!! Wouldn't there be a rejection problem?
Posted by poppy (Member # 5355) on 08-15-2012 11:02 AM:
Maybe should edit the title of this thread, because this person was not a lyme naturopath. She was a fraud.
-----------------------------------------------
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on 08-15-2012 11:55 AM:
-
Exactly. She APPEARS to be a fraud.
"falsely representing herself as a doctor of naturopathy"
Of course, I'd like to see a couple other sources to confirm that but, still. . .
At this point it is incorrect to say she is (was) a (basic) naturopath unless otherwise confirmed.
Regardless of exactly what credentials she may have from which country, clearly she was not what we all come to think of a "lyme naturopath" - not at all.
I hate it when this happens. Still, thanks so much for the link. It's important that we are informed of such sad occurrences.
-
[ 08-15-2012, 12:38 PM: Message edited by: Keebler ]
-----------------------------------------------
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on 08-15-2012 12:10 PM:
-
Accredited colleges of naturopathic medicine, state licensing and state & national ND membership links are in the set below.
When considering herbal / nutritional / adjunct methods:
if at all possible - because each person & each case is different - it's best to consult with an ILADS-educated LL (lyme literate) doctor who has completed four years of post-graduate medical education in the field of herbal and nutritional medicine -
- and someone who is current with ILADS' research & presentations, past and present.
Many LL NDs incorporate antibiotics (depending upon the licensing laws in their state). Some LLMDs and LL NDs have good working relationships.
When possible, it's great to have both a LLMD and LL ND and even better when they have a long-standing professional relationship.
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http://flash.lymenet.org/ubb/ultimatebb.php/topic/2/13964How to find an ILADS-educated LL:
N.D. (Naturopathic Doctor);
L.Ac. (Acupuncturist);
D.Ay. (Doctor of Ayurvedic Medicine);
D.O.M. (Doctor of Oriental Medicine);
Integrative / Holistic M.D., etc. (Be aware that those in this category can have various levels of formal herbal &/or nutritional education, perhaps even just a short course. Do ask first.)
Links to many articles and books by holistic-minded LL doctors of various degrees who all have this basic approach in common:
Understanding of the importance of addressing the infection(s) fully head-on with specific measures from all corners of medicine;
knowing which supplements have direct impact, which are only support and which are both.
You can compare and contrast many approaches.
BASIC HERBAL EDUCATIONAL & SAFETY links,
BODY WORK links with safety tailored to lyme patients,
LOW HEAT INFRARED SAUNA detail,
BIONIC 880 (& PE-1) links, and
RIFE links.
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http://flash.lymenet.org/scripts/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=2;t=013239;p=0What ILADS is & WHY you need an ILADS-educated, Lyme Literate Doctor (whether LLMD or LL ND, or both)
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Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on 08-15-2012 12:40 PM:
Poor patient!!!
I agree.. this was NOT an LLND.
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Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on 08-15-2012 12:40 PM:
quote:Originally posted by poppy:
Maybe should edit the title of this thread, because this person was not a lyme naturopath. She was a fraud.
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It should just say "Naturopath arrested."
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Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on 08-15-2012 12:50 PM:
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But it's not clear that she even is/was a licensed ND. She may be just a fraud who claims that.
I doubt that any licensed ND in California (or any state) could do bovine stem cell "treatment"
Were she to be a licensed ND in California, she would not have had to send the patient to Mexico for the IV line insertion. She would have had arrangements with a local hospital for that to be done, as do the LLMD and LL NDs who are legitimate.
Now, she likely has some kind of schooling from somewhere but until we know what that is, she sure looks like a "fraud".
I assume the legal authorities did their basic homework to assess the "fraud" status so the charge was legitimate.
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Posted by poppy (Member # 5355) on 08-15-2012 01:37 PM:
Here is the list of licensed naturopathic doctors in CA, by county. There is no one by the name of Helms in the list. Encenitas is in San Diego County.
http://www.naturopathic.ca.gov/consumers/lookup_bycounty.pdfDid you notice this woman was using two different names?
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Posted by poppy (Member # 5355) on 08-15-2012 02:22 PM:
Tracy, or moderator, could you please change the subject line of this thread? The last thing we need is for people to get the impression that treating lyme or naturopaths are doing wrong.
The person who was arrested was not legit, was not a lyme naturopath!!!
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Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on 08-15-2012 02:50 PM:
OK, what should I change it to??
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on 08-15-2012 02:53 PM:
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How about:
Fraud arrest: not licensed to practice
or
Fraud arrest: practicing w/o license
Not enough room but would like to have included "not LL, either" -- but not being LL can't get anyone arrested.
Maybe:
Fraud: no license to practice; not LL
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Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on 08-15-2012 03:08 PM:
Done!
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Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on 08-15-2012 03:20 PM:
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Merci Beaucoup.
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Bagge
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Re: Bogus LD Treatment Nearly Kills Woman in U.S.
by Bagge » Thu 16 Aug 2012 4:04
Comment relocated to more appropriate location.
Last edited by Bagge on Thu 16 Aug 2012 14:43, edited 1 time in total.
Bagge
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"Not Guilty Plea in Fake Doctor Case"
by Bagge » Thu 16 Aug 2012 4:14
.
http://www.760kfmb.com/story/19285934/a ... r-arrested
Not guilty plea from Encinitas woman accused of practicing medicine without a license
Posted: Aug 15, 2012 2:20 PM EDT Updated: Aug 15, 2012 8:22 PM EDT
SAN DIEGO (CNS) - An Encinitas woman accused of practicing medicine without a license, leaving a muscular sclerosis patient severely ill, pleaded not guilty Wednesday 11 felony charges.
Kathleen Ann Helms, 57, was ordered held in lieu of $250,000 bail.
Deputy District Attorney Gina Darvas said two people treated by Helms filed complaints with the California Medical Board, prompting an investigation by the FBI.
The complaining witnesses claimed Helms, also known as Catherine Bright-Helms, falsely represented herself as a doctor of naturopathy in Encinitas and Oak Park, Ill.
"She tells people that she's a doctor; she in fact told the victims that she was an M.D.; she's not," Darvas said outside court. "She doesn't have a license in California to practice medicine or any form of allopathic or alternative medicine. She claimed to be an expert in Lyme disease."
Helms, who operated a business called BrightHouse Wellness on North El Camino Real in Encinitas, allegedly had been diagnosing patients with Lyme disease and advising them to undergo a treatment plan that involved the infusion of dimethyl sulfoxide, injections of animal cells and taking vitamins, according to the FBI.
According to an affidavit in the case, Helms diagnosed a patient with the inflammatory illness after looking at a sample of blood under a microscope, then prescribed a treatment plan that included shots of bovine stem cells from Germany.
Helms allegedly directed the patient to go to a Tijuana hospital to have a peripherally inserted central line put into one of her arms so Helms could give treatments intravenously. The patient agreed to pay $300 for the insertion of the line and $30,000 for the treatment Helms recommended, according to the affidavit.
The patient suffered multiple complications with the insertion of the line and had to return to Tijuana three times to make the line functional, according to the FBI.
The patient subsequently returned to Helms' office, where she was hooked to an IV and infused with four bags of dimethyl sulfoxide, an experimental medicinal solvent, and two stem-cell injections in the stomach, the affidavit alleges. The treatment session took about seven hours, according to the FBI.
The patient returned to Helms' office three more times and underwent a similar regime that included infusions and injections. On the evening of the last treatment, the woman became seriously ill at home and was taken to an emergency room and immediately placed in an intensive-care unit, according to the affidavit.
The patient initially was told she only had hours to live because her organs were shutting down, but ultimately was hospitalized for six weeks, then placed into a skill-nursing facility and later an assisted-living facility, according to the FBI.
A man diagnosed by Helms with Lyme disease was suffering from prostate cancer, Darvas said,
Each alleged victim -- referred to Helms through other alternative practitioners -- is out about $6,000, according to Darvas.
Helms is charged with multiple counts of treating the sick without a certificate and grand theft and faces nearly 13 years in prison if convicted. A bail review was scheduled Monday and a preliminary hearing for Aug. 28.
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Bagge
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Re: Bogus LD Treatment Nearly Kills Woman in U.S.
by RitaA » Thu 16 Aug 2012 4:46
I'm reposting this from another thread as it really is a better fit here:
Bagge wrote:
What is particularly interesting is that discussions about the alleged 'LLMD' arrested by the FBI earlier this week all seem to focus on the fact that she was practicing without a license. There is almost no mention, seemingly no concern whatsoever about the other allegations regarding alleged injections of animal cells into the patient, or the alleged $30K treatment plan, or alleged DMSO infusions, or any apparent concern about the continued improvement and overall well-being of the patient.
In fact, to ensure the continued protection of the rest of the so-called 'LLMDs' and ensure they are not associated with the likes of an alleged phoney doctor, this woman who was just arrested by the FBI has been demoted by Lymeland from an 'LLMD' to merely some seemingly unknown person practicing without a license.
Bagge, I for one was shocked to read about the alleged injection of animal cells. And you're absolutely right about this individual being considered an LLMD by at least one website:
http://www.mdjunction.com/forums/lyme-d ... ted-by-fbi
XXXXXX NOTE: this dr. was shown in our ILLINOIS llmd info!!
[article]
wow, what a crooked scheme this woman had!! grrrr!!
thanks yyyyy for forwarding this to me!
xxxxx shaking my head
I wonder how many Lyme disease patients were directed to the Illinois office by MD Junction? Is this really an exceptional case or just the tip of the iceberg?
Edited to add:
Bagge,
I wasn't aware of the coverage on LymeNet. Some individuals there are going to great lengths in an effort to create distance between Catherine Bright-Helms and Lyme disease. Perhaps they haven't seen the following message and/or they really do believe she's the only person who has ever misrepresented herself/himself as an expert in diagnosing and treating Lyme disease.
https://www.inspire.com/futurbnk/journa ... e-disease/
Beating Lyme Disease
By futurbnk · June 19, 2010 at 5:11 pm
Hi All,
I am a Naturopathic Doctor that was infected with Lyme Disease over 7 years ago. A very severe case of it - in fact I went paralyzed from the neck down and suffered all the symtpoms of the people in the movie "Under our Skin" I have worked with and studied under some of the top alternative Lyme octors in the country and I can tell you I am dancing today. I am very careful daily with all things and with my mental attitude. Even though I am dancing again I do not underestimate the power of the possibility of return. I have found a new, healthier way of life and am able to help all those in need of kicking this unGodly disease. Life is vastly more beautiful now and I am a much better guardian of myself at being disciplined and diligent in doing the right things that common man is able to do without having to spend a great deal of money and get no answers. I am here for you. email or call me Dr. Catherine Bright-Helms ND, MH, CNC
Whether her license is valid or not is almost beside the point because the person in question has clearly promoted herself as an LLND (if not LLMD) and Lyme disease patients in Illinois were being directed to her office by MD Junction and possibly other websites.
RitaA
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