on Oct 9th, 2006
Reno doctor indicted for trafficking human growth hormone
JACLYN O’MALLEY
JOMALLEY@RGJ.COM
September 28, 2006
A renowned Reno cancer doctor who specializes in alternative treatments has been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges related to “introducing” unapproved human growth hormone drugs from Israel into Nevada and distributing the drug for a purpose other than the treatment of disease.
The indictment was handed down Wednesday afternoon in Reno federal court against Dr. James W. Forsythe, 68, owner and medical director of Century Wellness Clinic, 521 Hammill Lane, in Reno.
Forsythe did not return calls for comment.
A warrant has been issued for his arrest.
The indictment alleges that Forsythe, with the help of others in the Century Wellness Clinic Inc., introduced a form of human growth hormone called Bio-Tropin from Israel to Nevada without the required approval from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It alleges that it happened on multiple occasions between June 2003 and February 2005.
It also alleges that on multiple occasions during that time, Forsythe, who was “aided and abetted by others” in his practice, did knowingly distribute Bio-Tropin for a purpose other than treating disease or other recognized medical conditions.
Injectable human growth hormone can be used to stop aging, lose weight and increase muscle mass and bone density. In 1995, a 44-count complaint filed with the Nevada Board of Medical Examiners alleged that Forsythe made “unreasonable additional charges for tests in a laboratory, radiological services or other services performed outside of his office,” according to the Nevada Board of Medical Examiners. Forsythe pleaded no contest to one count and agreed to pay $1,000 as a fine and pay $44,000 to make up for the improper billings.
His wife, Earlene Forsythe, a licensed registered nurse, lost her bid for Las Vegas Assemblywoman in 2002 during a race where her opponents circulated materials and left phone messages that called her a “quack” who overbilled cancer patients. She filed a complaint with the state Ethics Commission against the Nevada Liberty Caucus. The commission dismissed her claim.
According to the complaint, she believed she lost to Francis Allen by nine votes because of the negative statements about her and her husband related to the board of medical examiners’ complaint.
According to his Web site, Forsythe has a Sunday morning radio show on KHIT 1450 AM titled “Your Passport to Wellness with Dr. James Forsythe.”
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The original article from the Reno Gazette Journal can be viewed here.
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