Small News/Politics Graphic Health Fraud Conference in Dallas is Closed to the Public
From Natural Healthline by Michael S. Evers


The Federal Trade Commission is refusing to allow the public and media to attend a Dallas health fraud conference June 26-27 co-sponsored by the National Association of Attorneys General and the Federation of State Medical Boards. As previously reported by Natural HealthLineŽ (05.01.97), the Federation recently announced that it will step up disciplinary actions against MDs and DOs who utilize "questionable" methods in the treatment of patients and that it will try to stop health freedom legislation from passage at the federal and state levels of government. Many who have examined the proposed meeting agenda agree that it appears likely the Federation will attempt to use the conference to promote its anti-alternative medicine agenda.

The FTC/NAAG/FSMB meeting is titled: "Preventing Healthcare Fraud: Building Partnerships -- A National Conference to Explore Practical Solutions." Alternative medicine critic Stephen Barrett, MD is a guest speaker twice on the program, once with a panel discussing "Fraudulent Marketing Practices That Must Be Addressed," and again on a panel looking at "Alternative/ Complementary Therapies: Impact of States' Alternative Medical Practice Laws on Healthcare."

Three alternative medicine spokespersons have been invited to participate: Woodson Merrell, MD, Alan Trachtenberg, MD, and Marc Micozzi, MD.

In response to the closed meeting, more than 20 state health freedom campaigns have announced they will send representatives to Dallas to monitor the health fraud conference and conducts meetings of their own to explore opportunities for increased cooperation and mutual support. They have called their summit meeting a "Confederation of State Health Freedom Campaigns," to distinguish their activities from the Federation of State Medical Boards.

The Confederation is planning a rally on Wednesday evening, the day before the health fraud conference begins, to launch its counteroffensive and focus public scrutiny on the government's closed meeting. Several speakers will address the rally, along with videotaped messages from celebrities and prominent supporters who are unable to attend.

For more information about the Health Freedom Rally and the Confederation's efforts, call
Sally Allen-Smith
(214) 887-0555

For additional information on the Federation of State Medical Boards,

Report of the Special Committee on Health Care Fraud

AMA Council on Scientific Affairs Report on Alternative Medicine


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