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Doctor Who Got Atkins' Death Report Is Selling Diet Book



 
 
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  #1  
Old August 29th, 2005, 10:24 PM
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Default 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

  #2  
Old August 30th, 2005, 04:20 AM
rich
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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


  #3  
Old August 31st, 2005, 12:50 AM
Doug Freyburger
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wrote:

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.


Strike one. He cheated by getting the report and cheated
again by releasing it to a political activist group.

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.


Strike two. Atkins is high-fat medium-protein not
high protein. When you're complaining about something
it really helps if you're not an illiterate on the
topic.

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.


Strike three, the old outright lie. The day Dr A
slipped on the ice and broke his head he weighed 197
pounds. At six feet height some would argue that he
was below his ideal weight at the time, some think
that is about ideal. Either way it is far from
obese. Those who use his weight the day he died
are liars who would need to be actually illiterate
to believe such a claim. Sure, he git the high
protein thing wrong so he's clearly clueless about
what Atkins actually is, but what's the chance that
a board certified cardiologist is actually illiterate?

The examiner's report
suggested Atkins had a history of congestive heart failure and high
blood pressure, which his widow and supporters have denied.


Heart problems caused by virus. High blood pressure
would have been a natural while in a coma bloating
at the rate of 10 pounds per day between fall and
death.

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.


Motives are irrelevant sometimes. Three strikes and
you're out. The guy's an illiterate or a liar if he
read the report and concluded Dr A was obese.

"Fleming has a long-term animus against Atkins.


Duh.

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.


And failing actually finding anyone who followed the
directions and got sick as a result he had to resort
to lies. What a whanker.

The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine didn't return a call
seeking comment.


What a shock. ;^)

Regardless of whether action is brought against Fleming, Martosko said
the doctor likely knew how the situation would play out.


If he actually truely believes his statements that
Atkins is high protein and that Dr A was obese the day
he fell, then he's too stupid to be able to work through
"how the situation would play out". Of course barring
late-life brain damage, that level of stupidity would
also bar him from ever getting into med school in the
first place. Med schools don't smile on people who
can't read those nasty book things.

  #4  
Old August 31st, 2005, 10:58 AM
gweebles
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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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