James Privitera
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James R. Privitera, Jr., M.D. is an American physician who has been involved in several controversial forms of alternative medicine and nutrition.
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[edit] Education and publications
Privitera graduated in 1962 with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Chemistry from Canisius College. After taking graduate Biochemistry courses at University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, he earned an M.D. from Creighton University in 1967. He did a one year internship in internal medicine at Providence Hospital, Seattle, Washington, then a one-year residency at Presbyterian Hospital, San Francisco, California. From 1969-1970 Privitera took a Clinical Fellowship in Allergy, Immunology and Rheumatology at The Scripps Research Institute. He has practiced in Covina, California since 1970.[1]
Privitera is author of a book promoting the health benefits of olive leaf extract,[2] and another on use of live blood analysis to detect "silent clots".[3]
[edit] Laetrile controversy and legal ramifications
In 1975, Privitera was convicted of selling laetrile, an illegal and ineffective alternative treatment for cancer.[4] Privitera was sentenced to six months imprisonment in California but appealed the decision.[5] The case led to a Supreme Court of California decision in 1979. Citing Roe v. Wade, Privitera's lawyers contended that the right to obtain laetrile is a fundamental right of privacy.[6] The California Court of Appeal overturned the conviction citing a compelling interest, and the state appealed.[7] The Supreme Court of California ruled 5 to 2 that the right to obtain drugs of unproven efficacy is not encompassed by the right of privacy embodied in either the State or Federal Constitutions. The majority wrote that "the lesson of Roe v. Wade for our case is that a requirement that a drug be certified effective for its intended use is a reasonable means to 'insure maximum safety for the patient.'" [8] Privitera was unsuccessful in an attempt to have the Supreme Court of the United States review the case.[9] Consequently Privitera had his medical license temporarily suspended and he was placed on 10 years' probation.[10] Having exhausted all his legal appeals in 1982, he served about two months in prison, but was soon pardoned by California governor Jerry Brown after the governor received more than 10,000 letters from citizens asking him to do so.[11] Privitera, who was also granted a license to practice medicine in Colorado in 1983, was also put on probation in that State in 1986, solely because of the temporary suspension of his California licence.[12] In 1987, the State of California moved, unsuccessfully, to revoke his probation and end his practice.[13] James Privitera is still in practice in Covina, California.[1]
[edit] Live blood analysis controversy
During his probationary period, Privitera, a proponent of the unproven alternative medical technique of live blood analysis (LBA), founded two companies for commercializing LBA, Livcell Analysis and NutriScreen.[14] Privitera's work was defended with the argument that "orthodox medicine has worked overtime to prevent [LBA's] acceptance in the medical community."[1]
In 2001, the Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General issued a report on regulation of "unestablished laboratory tests" such as live blood analysis.[15]
[edit] Disciplinary action
In 1999, a patient's death led to action by California Attorney General Bill Lockyer. According to the charges, a 71-year old patient with multiple medical problems had been seeing Privitera since 1991. She came to his office in March 1999 while she had been suffering from pain in the left arm for a few days. While in the waiting room she complained of a headache and asked for Tylenol. She was treated with 20,000 units of the anticoagulant heparin under the tongue and subsequently with another 20,000 units subcutaneously while in Privitera’s office. The woman collapsed shortly after and his staff called 911. She was taken to the hospital comatose and bleeding from several orifices. The emergency room tests showed she was fully anticoagulated and unable to stop the bleeding in her head. She was declared brain dead and died the next morning.
The State charged Privitera with gross negligence, repeated negligent acts, incompetence, prescribing without indication, and inadequate records.[16] Prior to trial, in a plea bargain with the State, Privitera admitted to "failing to perform an adequate history and physical of a patient before commencing treatment and failing to maintain adequate and accurate records of the care and treatment provided to a patient in the manner set forth in the Accusation," all other charges were dropped [16] and he was reprimanded, fined and required to take courses on prescribing practices and recordkeeping by the California Board of Quality Medical Assurance for the above admission.[16]
[edit] Criticism
Privitera has been criticized by Stephen Barrett for his involvement in several controversial practices, including laetrile, calcium pangamate, and DMSO.[17] Scott Tips explains the following about Barrett: "in 1998, the self-proclaimed “quackbuster” Stephen Barrett sued Dr. Privitera for defamation because of certain statements appearing in the book that were critical of Barrett. However, Barrett lost this suit when the court granted a summary-judgment motion in favor of Dr. Privitera." [1]
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d Tips S. Board Member Introspective: James R. Privitera M.D. via National Health Federation, retrieved September 23, 2006.
- ^ Privitera JR (1996). Olive Leaf Extract: A new/Old Healing Bonanza For Mankind. Nutriscreen, ISBN 0-9655872-0-7
- ^ Privitera JR, Stang A (1997). Silent Clots: Life's Biggest Killers, Lockstep Medicine's Conspiracy to Suppress the Test That Should Be Done in Emergency Rooms Throughout the World. Catacombs Press, ISBN 0-9656313-0-3
- ^ "'ANTICANCER' DRUG ASSAILED IN TRIAL; Five Convicted on Coast in Laetrile Distribution Plot". New York Times. 1975-12-21. http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F10D10FB355E16768FDDA80A94DA415B858BF1D3. Retrieved 2008-10-06.
- ^ Brant J, Graceffa J. Rutherford, Privitera, and Chad Green: Laetrile's setbacks in the courts. American Journal of Law and Medicine 6 (Spring 1980), 151-71.
- ^ People v. Privitera, 141 Cal. Rptr. 764 (Dist. Ct. App. 1977)
- ^ People v. Privitera, 23 Cal.3d 697, 591 P.2d 919, 153 Cal.Rptr. 431 (1979).
- ^ People v. Privitera, cert. denied 444 U.S. 949 (1979).
- ^ Office of Technology Assessment (1990). Unconventional Cancer Treatments. via Princeton University OTA Legacy
- ^ Ernst E (July 12, 2005). A new era of scientific discovery? Intrigued by the spectacular claims made for Live Blood Analysis? Don't be. It doesn't work. The Guardian
- ^ 10,000 letters from California citizens asking California Governor Jerry Brown to pardon him
- ^ State of Colorado Board of Medical Examiners Proceeding (January 10, 1986). Stipulation and Order in the Matter of Disciplinary Proceedings Regarding the License to Practice Medicine in Colorado of James R. Privitera, M.D. Proceeding No. RG ME DAFRI
- ^ Lee JH, Johnson J (January 13, 1990). "Captivity Case May Be Tied to Faith". Los Angeles Times
- ^ Lowell JA (November 1986).Live Cell Analysis: High-Tech Hokum. Nutrition Forum.
- ^ HHS Office of the Inspector General (July 2001). CLIA regulation of unestablished laboratory tests.
- ^ a b c State of California (March 31, 2003). In the Matter of the Accusation Against James R. Privitera M.D. Case No. 11-2001-119360
- ^ Barrett SJ, Former Laetrile Peddler Disciplined Again, Quackwatch, February 23, 2005. available online
