A person in California is dealing with 5 felony expenses for allegedly posing as a licensed physician whereas offering unproven medical remedies—together with ones he claimed may deal with most cancers—to 1000’s of individuals over a number of years.
In a information launch this week, Los Angeles County District Lawyer George Gascón introduced expenses towards Stephan Gevorkian, who operated a enterprise referred to as “Pathways Medical” in Toluca Lake, close to North Hollywood, since 2017.
Gevorkian allegedly posed as a medical physician, regardless of apparently not holding a medical license of any sort in California, not at the same time as a naturopath. Many affected person testimonials on the enterprise’s web site and Google opinions seem to confer with Gevorkian as “Dr. G”
“Working towards drugs with no license shouldn’t be solely a legal exercise in California, it will possibly trigger irreparable hurt to the well being of unsuspecting individuals, some with critical diseases, who consider they’re beneath the care of a licensed doctor,” Gascón mentioned within the information launch.
However “Dr. G” wasn’t providing normal, evidence-based drugs together with his allegedly phony title. Pathways’ choices had been a brief listing of unproven, goop-esque wellness fads, primarily IV vitamin remedies, in addition to ozone therapies and electro-acuscope remedy (which includes making use of low voltage present to tissue). And Gevorkian made daring medical claims about all of them.
Daring claims
Pathways’ web site is presently blocked with a message saying it is “Below Building.” However, an Web Archive seize from March 8, 2023, reveals a number of IV vitamin drip therapies supplied, with claims comparable to “different most cancers remedy,” “improves melancholy,” “prevents viral, bacterial, fungal and parasitic infections,” “treats anemia,” and “assists with habit restoration.”
The electro-acuscope therapy is alleged to regenerate injured tissue and deal with “neuro-musculoskeletal issues, each power and acute.” The ozone therapies, in the meantime, can deal with “gynecological points comparable to endometriosis, ovarian cysts, and vaginitis,” plus sluggish growing older, cut back wrinkles, and switch fats into muscle.
Gevorkian wrote on the positioning’s homepage that “our medical consultants noticed a spot within the area of recent drugs, with sufferers being overly prescribed drugs and medicines but ignoring the straightforward but efficient advantages of IV Vitamin remedy.” It is unclear who the medical consultants are. The web site doesn’t seem to listing any workers or medical advisors. On enterprise filings with the state, Gevorkian is listed because the CEO, CFO, director, and secretary of Pathway’s govt board.
A part of the gross sales pitch consists of noting that nutritional vitamins delivered intravenously supply “100% Absorption,” whereas solely 10 p.c of dietary supplements are absorbed through the usual route. Nonetheless, in case you are still thinking about non-IV nutritional vitamins, Pathways additionally sells its personal number of branded nutritional vitamins and complement drugs.
The positioning claims that these miraculous-sounding vitamin remedies have “attracted clientele from all walks of life, together with excessive profile celebrities and executives.” Final November, in addition they attracted an undercover state investigator, who obtained a session with Gevorkian. In accordance with the district legal professional’s information launch:
The enterprise conducts blood assessments on sufferers, advises them on remedies and provides therapy for critical situations together with most cancers and viral infections. Within the session, Gevorkian allegedly didn’t precisely handle irregular ranges of a hormone that might point out a critical medical situation.
In a press release to the Los Angeles Occasions, Gevorkian’s legal professional, Justin E. Sterling, denied the allegations and mentioned Gevorkian “appears to be like ahead to vigorously defending himself.”
“It’s essential to acknowledge that what’s considered identified or understood early on shouldn’t be at all times the case in the long run,” Sterling’s assertion learn. “Any suggestion that Mr. Gevorkian was impersonating a physician in an effort to deal with unsuspecting sufferers is demonstrably false.”
It is unclear what Gevorkian’s protection is precisely. The LA Occasions famous that Sterling didn’t reply to follow-up questions concerning the protection. Web searches into Gevorkian’s background didn’t instantly flip up something to substantiate a medical background. An article in a marriage journal seems to function Gevorkian’s 2012 Hollywood wedding ceremony to knowledgeable Latin ballroom dancer. The article states that he’s “a physician specializing in trauma surgical procedure.”
Gevorkian’s preliminary listening to is scheduled for Might 24.
