Disciplinary Actions against Chelation Therapists

Stephen Barrett, M.D.

Chelation therapy is a series of intravenous infusions containing EDTA and various other substances. It is falsely claimed to be effective against cardiovascular disease, autism, and many other diseases and conditions. The use of chelation for such purposes should be considered substandard medical practice. A few states have banned such use, but most handle complaints on a case-by-case basis and base their decision on the individual circumstances of the case.

The table below summarized disciplinary actions that state licensing boards have taken aagainst physicians who practiced chelation therapy. In some cases, the action was taken because the state medical board believed that the use of chelation itself was ground for disciplinary action. In other cases, the complaint against the physician had other grounds or was based on conduct that would be regarded as improper regardless of whether or not chelation was involved.

Doctor's Name	Year	State	Board Action
Charles E. Anderson, MD	1989 2009	VT	Restrictions Reprimanded; agreed not to renew license
Brian E. Briggs, MD	1983 1988	MN ND	License revoked One-year suspension
Linda Choi, MD	1990	NJ	Probation and $3,000 penalty
Serafina Corsello, MD	2001	NY	License revoked
Priyakant Doshi, MD	1990	NJ	Probation and $3,000 penalty
Stephen B. Edelson, MD	1995 2004	GA	Probation Reprimand, fine, indefinite probration
Robert A. Harris, MD	1985	CT	Probation and $1,000 fine
Eleazar M. Kadile, MD	2003	WI	Probation
Edward McDonagh, DO	--	MO	Dismissed
Dorothy Merritt, MD	2005 2008	TX	$3,000 assessment for misleading advertising $1,000 assessment for misleading advertising
Kirk D. Morgan, MD	1991 1994 1996 2000 2001 2003	KY	Restrictions Restrictions Probation, restrictions, and $968 penalty Emergency suspension Probation Indefinite restriction and $9,942 penalty
Arne Leonard Klepp, MD	1994	CA	Probation
Bozena Rozum-Slota, MD	2003	NY	Probation
Hellfried E.Sartori, MD	1984 1985	MD DC	License revoked License revoked
Frank Shallenberger, MD	1990 1995	CA NV	License surrendered $300 fine
Robban Sica, M.D,	2002 2004 2012	NY CT CT	Corporations dissolved, no license renewal Probation, restrictions Probation, restrictions, $7,700 fine
Donald E. Soli, MD	1984 1998	NV	Probation Probation, restrictions, and $4,000 penalty
Donald A. Underwood, DO	1986 1988	CA	Probation Probation
Robert B. Vance, DO	1981	UT	License revoked
Jack R. Vinson, DO	1990	TX	Probation
Francis J. Woo, Jr, MD	1990	AZ	Censure

This page was revised on September 4, 2012.

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