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Doctor Who Got Atkins' Death Report Is Selling Diet Book
http://www.townhall.com/news/politic...0040212b.shtml
Doctor Who Got Atkins' Death Report Is Selling Diet Book (CNSNews.com) - The death of low-carb diet physician Robert Atkins might have produced a financial boon for a Nebraska doctor who divulged private medical information about Atkins, and a political windfall for an animal-rights activist group that received the information. Dr. Richard M. Fleming, a cardiologist and founder of the Fleming Heart and Health Institute in Omaha, Neb., disclosed the report two months after releasing his own diet book in December. Fleming's book, titled "Stop Inflammation Now!" has a list price of $24.95 and is critical of high-protein diets like the one made famous by Atkins. Information Fleming obtained from the New York City medical examiner's office on Atkins' death showed the diet guru was obese when he died last April from the complications of a fall. The examiner's report suggested Atkins had a history of congestive heart failure and high blood pressure, which his widow and supporters have denied. A critic of Fleming accused him of having a "profit motive" by sharing the report with the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. That group has received more than $1 million from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and the animal-rights movement. "Fleming has a long-term animus against Atkins. He has been trying to demonstrate for years that Atkins dieting is harmful to people," said David Martosko, director of research for the Center for Consumer Freedom. "He also, by the way, has a profit motive. He's out there trying to sell books." According to a description on Amazon.com, Fleming's book "recommends that his diet be adopted in two phases: phase one is composed solely of fruit and vegetables; after consistent improvement in cardiac health has been accomplished, phase two, which adds whole grains, low-fat dairy and moderate servings of protein, may be undertaken." But the description also states, "Fleming is opposed to the currently popular high-protein diets for losing weight." Under pressure from Atkins' widow, Veronica, Fleming apologized Thursday. His attorney, Scott Calkins, denied that Fleming had anything to gain financially by giving the report to the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM). He said Fleming had done no media interviews and did not seek out publicity. "He had the report long before the Physicians Committee had it," Calkins said. "If he wanted to profit from it, he could have released the report directly to the media himself and taken advantage of all this if that's what his motives were. That's just not the type of person he is. He's offended by the fact that PCRM released something like this." Calkins added that the Physicians Committee contacted Fleming after he had received the report from the New York City medical examiner's office. Fleming agreed to release it as long as it was used only for research purposes, Calkins said. "The Physicians Committee obviously betrayed their representation to him as to the use of that report," Calkins said. "It wasn't to be released to the media." The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine didn't return a call seeking comment. Fleming's association with the group dates back to a press conference Nov. 20 in Washington, which served as a forum to attack the Atkins diet. He was part of a panel that included Dr. Neal D. Barnard, president of the Physicians Committee, who is the author of several books that emphasize a vegetarian diet. While the Physicians Committee can claim that releasing the information on Atkins was done in the best interest of the public, Fleming faces a different scenario. Atkins' widow, Veronica, has already expressed her concerns about the matter and could pursue legal action. The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services was notified of the situation this week by the New York City medical examiner's office, which admits it made an error when it issued the report to Fleming. "We mistakenly released a case file. That case file was sent to a physician who subsequently released that publicly," said Ellen Borakove, spokeswoman for the medical examiner's office. "[Fleming] either released it or caused it to be released." The medical examiner's office is supposed to only release medical reports to treating physicians and family members. Borakove said Fleming did not misrepresent himself in his request for information on Atkins. Because complaints against doctors are confidential, the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services couldn't confirm or deny whether one had been filed against Fleming. Spokeswoman Marla Augustine said the department's board of medicine and surgery would review such a complaint and pass along recommendations to the state attorney general. "Unprofessional or fraudulent conduct is grounds for disciplinary action against a license to practice medicine and surgery in Nebraska," Augustine said. "The ultimate penalty is revocation, but there's a range of things that could happen to the licensee. There could be a civil penalty, a reprimand, probation, suspension or revocation." Augustine said anyone could file a complaint against a doctor, and she noted that complaints remain confidential until the board submits a "petition for disciplinary action." She said only a small number of doctors are disciplined each year. Regardless of whether action is brought against Fleming, Martosko said the doctor likely knew how the situation would play out. "Fleming willfully turned over this deceased person's private medical file to the Physicians Committee, knowing full well what they would do with it," Martosko said. "He was very familiar with the group and its goals." ***** TC |
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wrote in message oups.com... Dr. Richard M. Fleming, a cardiologist and founder of the Fleming Heart and Health Institute in Omaha, Neb., disclosed the report two months after releasing his own diet book in December. Fleming's book, titled "Stop Inflammation Now!" has a list price of $24.95 and is critical of high-protein diets like the one made famous by Atkins. Atkins is not high protein. (with apologies to jc) Rich |
#4
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It is the old "he's dead and cannot defend my claims" thing. Only the
completely illiterate believe this about Atkins. Yes, his company filed bankruptcy, but it has nothing to do with whether or not the "diet" worked. I saw him on tv a few days before the fatal fall and he was not overweight in any way. I had a family member die from a virus infection in the heart and otherwise, his heart was in perfect health. Again, it is the mass ignorant who believe all this baloney. Serena |
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