Holistic Drs in OR losing licenses
Donation protected
Dr. Hatlestad completed medical school at Southern Illinois University and residency at the University of Minnesota. He also earned a Masters Degree in Nutritional Science from the University of Illinois prior to his medical training. He was Board Certified in Family Medicine beginning in 1993. He offers a broad background in both conventional and alternative medicine; bringing a fresh approach to patients who are discouraged with conventional medicine or desire a holistic perspective to their health care. His approaches also include training in bioidentical hormone management, acupuncture, nutritional and botanical therapies, Ayurvedic Medicine, chelation, energy medicine and various injection therapies. He has also been involved in several clinical research studies including the Trial to Assess Chelation Therapy with the NIH. He has no malpractice issues in his practice history.
For me, Integrative Medicine draws on the best aspects of different medical traditions and innovative practices to provide new ways of thinking about both Health and Disease. This includes taking advantage of the best of what conventional medicine has to offer. I enjoy helping patients transcend a common understanding of their illness to achieve a new level of responsibility for their health; finding treatment plans that align with their agendas and empowering them as a partner toward optimal wellness.
In June 2011 a complaint was filed with the OR Medical Board (OMB) by another physician against me charging improper diagnosis and treatment of heavy metal toxicity. In spite of no evidence of harm done to any patients, participation in several clinical studies using chelation therapy and provision of literature support that I was practicing within accepted guidelines for chelation therapy, the OMB took a conservative view of chelation therapy. They decided to follow the strict position of the American College of Medical Toxicology and later wrote a position statement on this available thru the OMB website. Ultimately, I opted to plead no contest in the case because of the OMB's rigid position, attorney advice and the financial limitations of fully contesting my position in court with likely over-rule by the OMB regardless of judicial decision. As a result I was prohibited from all testing, diagnosis and treatment of heavy metal toxicity using chelating agents. I was also placed on a probation of chart review for compliance with this restriction until 01/18. An added consequence was being reported to the National Practitioner Data Bank and loss of Board Certification in Family Medicine. This, in turn affected participation with several insurances.
Then in early 2015 another complaint was made, again by a physician, regarding my treatment of thyroid and adrenal issues. The OMB investigation was lead by a semi-retired Kaiser endocrinologist who recommended that I stop all hormone management. Again, there was no evidence of patient harm or even patient complaint in the investigation. However, I pushed their definitions of “standard of care” by ordering tests that they deemed “not medically justified” and by prescribing glandular thyroid medications. These accusations are somewhat simplified but were described as “unprofessional or dishonorable conduct” or “gross or repeated negligence in the practice of medicine”. This is standard language used by the OMB against sanctioned physicians because it is consistent in the OR state legislation supporting their right to sanctions such labeled physicians. I contested these accusations with additional medical literature support and review by another ‘friendly’ physician in the area. This would provide me some protection as defined by additional OR statute allowing for ‘alternative medicine practice’. However, they repeatedly ignore this provision and demanded that I attend a ‘competency evaluation’ with an organization of their choice. To have refused would have resulted in the loss of my license and a significant fine for being “non-compliant”.
I complete that evaluation at the end of August, an expense of over $10K. Unfortunately, the results of that evaluation essentially came to the same conclusion as the OMB and they recommended that I discontinue practice unless I could be supervised 100% of the time and follow their re-education plan (an additional cost). This is neither logistically practical nor financially possible for me. I could also appeal this decision through a difficult judicial hearing that would require hiring expensive outside expert witnesses. However, this is also financially impossible and is not likely to be successful based on the power that the OMB wields and their internal legal system. They basically have full legislative authority to overturn any legal decisions in their favor. Thus, I am left with little option but to ‘voluntarily’ surrender my medical license. This is only slightly better than having my license revoked and potentially fined as well.
Many of you have already asked if there is anything you can do to help. I cannot and will not ask you to do anything on my behalf. However, I would encourage you to do some research of your own. If you do wish to vent your thoughts or frustrations or your experience of my “unprofessional or dishonorable conduct” and “gross or repeated negligence in the practice of medicine”, I would suggest telling your local and state representatives, the governor and the OMB. If you have experience with other physicians that have been similarly treated by Medical Boards or other organization, feel free to include that in your comments.
It may be too late for my case, but I will continue to make some noise about my situation and a system that seems to be unfairly targeting physicians that practice integrative medicine. I know of a number of colleagues that have been in similar situations and similar run-ins with the OMB. There are also plenty of conspiracy stories out there about a backroom agenda by the AMA, Pharma, FDA, Federation of State Medical Boards, Quack Watch, etc. to discredit physicians that practice alternative medicine. Regardless, I am setting up a site on www.gofundme.com to raise money to support this fight. Any funds raised will go toward covering my legal defense and toward creating change in the Medical Board system in Oregon in hopes of protecting other docs from a similar fate.
For me, Integrative Medicine draws on the best aspects of different medical traditions and innovative practices to provide new ways of thinking about both Health and Disease. This includes taking advantage of the best of what conventional medicine has to offer. I enjoy helping patients transcend a common understanding of their illness to achieve a new level of responsibility for their health; finding treatment plans that align with their agendas and empowering them as a partner toward optimal wellness.
In June 2011 a complaint was filed with the OR Medical Board (OMB) by another physician against me charging improper diagnosis and treatment of heavy metal toxicity. In spite of no evidence of harm done to any patients, participation in several clinical studies using chelation therapy and provision of literature support that I was practicing within accepted guidelines for chelation therapy, the OMB took a conservative view of chelation therapy. They decided to follow the strict position of the American College of Medical Toxicology and later wrote a position statement on this available thru the OMB website. Ultimately, I opted to plead no contest in the case because of the OMB's rigid position, attorney advice and the financial limitations of fully contesting my position in court with likely over-rule by the OMB regardless of judicial decision. As a result I was prohibited from all testing, diagnosis and treatment of heavy metal toxicity using chelating agents. I was also placed on a probation of chart review for compliance with this restriction until 01/18. An added consequence was being reported to the National Practitioner Data Bank and loss of Board Certification in Family Medicine. This, in turn affected participation with several insurances.
Then in early 2015 another complaint was made, again by a physician, regarding my treatment of thyroid and adrenal issues. The OMB investigation was lead by a semi-retired Kaiser endocrinologist who recommended that I stop all hormone management. Again, there was no evidence of patient harm or even patient complaint in the investigation. However, I pushed their definitions of “standard of care” by ordering tests that they deemed “not medically justified” and by prescribing glandular thyroid medications. These accusations are somewhat simplified but were described as “unprofessional or dishonorable conduct” or “gross or repeated negligence in the practice of medicine”. This is standard language used by the OMB against sanctioned physicians because it is consistent in the OR state legislation supporting their right to sanctions such labeled physicians. I contested these accusations with additional medical literature support and review by another ‘friendly’ physician in the area. This would provide me some protection as defined by additional OR statute allowing for ‘alternative medicine practice’. However, they repeatedly ignore this provision and demanded that I attend a ‘competency evaluation’ with an organization of their choice. To have refused would have resulted in the loss of my license and a significant fine for being “non-compliant”.
I complete that evaluation at the end of August, an expense of over $10K. Unfortunately, the results of that evaluation essentially came to the same conclusion as the OMB and they recommended that I discontinue practice unless I could be supervised 100% of the time and follow their re-education plan (an additional cost). This is neither logistically practical nor financially possible for me. I could also appeal this decision through a difficult judicial hearing that would require hiring expensive outside expert witnesses. However, this is also financially impossible and is not likely to be successful based on the power that the OMB wields and their internal legal system. They basically have full legislative authority to overturn any legal decisions in their favor. Thus, I am left with little option but to ‘voluntarily’ surrender my medical license. This is only slightly better than having my license revoked and potentially fined as well.
Many of you have already asked if there is anything you can do to help. I cannot and will not ask you to do anything on my behalf. However, I would encourage you to do some research of your own. If you do wish to vent your thoughts or frustrations or your experience of my “unprofessional or dishonorable conduct” and “gross or repeated negligence in the practice of medicine”, I would suggest telling your local and state representatives, the governor and the OMB. If you have experience with other physicians that have been similarly treated by Medical Boards or other organization, feel free to include that in your comments.
It may be too late for my case, but I will continue to make some noise about my situation and a system that seems to be unfairly targeting physicians that practice integrative medicine. I know of a number of colleagues that have been in similar situations and similar run-ins with the OMB. There are also plenty of conspiracy stories out there about a backroom agenda by the AMA, Pharma, FDA, Federation of State Medical Boards, Quack Watch, etc. to discredit physicians that practice alternative medicine. Regardless, I am setting up a site on www.gofundme.com to raise money to support this fight. Any funds raised will go toward covering my legal defense and toward creating change in the Medical Board system in Oregon in hopes of protecting other docs from a similar fate.
Organizer
Chris Hatlestad
Organizer
Portland, OR