“Alternative” cancer clinic threatens to sue high school blogger

[Godhumor]

Subject from Bad Astronomy.

So, right now there is a story making the rounds of the incredibly awful quack "Dr" Stanislaw Burzynski suing blogs that point out his "antineoplaston" therapy is essentially, well, horeshit of the worst woo kind (The kind that provides false hope to desperate people and charges many thousands of dollars for the priviledge.).

The reason this is making the rounds now is one of his targets was Rhys Morgan, a 17 year old blogger, whom the clinic minders attempted to intimidate, threaten, cajole, etc. Rhys ended up having none of it and posted the whole exchange on his site. He handled the situation with aplomb and maturity, and, as a result, his story has begun popping up all over the casual scientific communities online.

I found out about it through Bad Astronomy at http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2011/11/28/alternative-cancer-clinic-threatens-to-sue-high-school-blogger/#more-41301.

Rhys Morgan's account is at his website http://rhysmorgan.co/2011/11/threats-from-the-burzynski-clinic/.

Read the story and give support to a talented and gifted young man who refused to roll over.

[Godhumor]

1. Bumping for the night crew n/t

[Courtesy Flush]

2. I showed the clinic's link to my wife's neurologist

I knew he was a quack, but I'd never forgive myself if I found out he was legit after it was too late. Doctor had the exact same impression I did. Quacksville.

[Godhumor]

7. Yeah, that's the awful rub. Give false hope for thousands upon thousands of dollars

Absolutely hate this kind of stuff.

I can't really tie this back to your original statement, but I truly hope your wife recovered.

[Lorien]

11. Nonsense.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0ibsoqjPac

[Courtesy Flush]

14. Read this story

http://www.burzynskiscam.com/

[_eh]

3. Jesus!

Is this "Oppress the Fuck out of Teenagers" Week? :shrug:

[Lorien]

9. Watch this before you make that silly assessment

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0ibsoqjPac

[PeaceNikki]

4. I want to read this later

So I'm posting now so it's in MyDU.

Kthxbai

[Lorien]

10. Watch this first:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0ibsoqjPac

[Odin2005]

5. Post this in Health so the woo-woos can see it.

[SidDithers]

6. K&R...

Thanks for posting.

:thumbsup:

Sid

[Lorien]

8. If you watched the free documentary "Burzynski" you would know that this is

bullshit; another smear campaign against a doctor who has a loyal following of his CURED PATIENTS. The FDA tried to take him down by taking him to trial 17 times. They DID NOT dispute his claims that his treatments were more effective than traditional chemotherapy; they say this in the courtroom in the video. They object to the fact that Burzynski owns the patent on his treatment and won't sell it to big pharma because he knows that they would bury it.

So yes, I'm calling this pro big pharma smear against a man who has saved hundreds of lives a steaming pile of propaganda horseshit of the worst kind!

[Godhumor]

12. Oh dear, you're presenting his "documentary" as proof he isn't horrible?

Or rather a feature-film length false advertisement for false hope.

Very simple, there has never, ever been a controlled study that can replicate Burzynski's findings because he made them up. His documentary is the worst kind of shill work imaginable.

[DiverDave]

13. What say you?

Any legitimate therapy should stand up to peer scrutiny.

If someone doesn't allow that, (or wont present methodology because of $$ concerns) I smell a rat.

So this guy HELPS people, yet wont allow anyone else to do it?
Because he's afraid that pharma will somehow stop him and everyone else from helping sick people?

Scammer.

If he REALLY wanted to help, he would encourage all doc's to use his treatment,
but he isnt...stinks to me.


Present for peer review, if its really a helpful treatment, help sick people.
His Hippocratic oath demands he do that.

[SomethingFishy]

15. So this 17 year old kid is a pawn for big pharma?

I'm all for alternative medicines but it seems to me that if this guy was such a humanitarian then people wouldn't need to ask for donations to get the treatments. '


I don't know all the facts here but this kid seems to have a point. I wouldn't be so quick to claim him a pawn of Big Pharma when your only evidence is a documentary made by the very person in question.

[ohbill]

16. Chemo is far worse than what Burzynski is doing.

This whole story smells to high heaven like a smear job from Big Pharm.

[Godhumor]

17. Well, chemo actually can help. All Burzynski does is take money from those who are desperate

The man is a fraud of the worst kind.

[tammywammy]

18. Interesting

I can't rec it's been too long, so here's a kick.

[Godhumor]

19. Self bumping once more for new info. Person who harrassed the high school has apparently parted

company with the quack "Dr.".

Of course, the clinic couldn't even issue a press release announcing this without reiterating its threats against bloggers. Burzynski is disgusting.

Copied from Scienceblogs - Respecful Insolence (Orac)

--------------
The Burzynski Clinic is issuing the following public statement regarding recent internet activity between U.K. bloggers who have provided inaccurate information regarding the Clinic and Marc Stephens.
Marc Stephens was recently hired by the Burzynski Clinic as an independent contractor to provide web optimization services and to attempt to stop the dissemination of false and inaccurate information concerning Dr. Burzynski and the Clinic.

We understand that Marc Stephens sent a google map picture of a blogger's house to the blogger and made personal comments to bloggers. Dr. Burzynski and the Clinic feel that such actions were not appropriate. Dr. Buzynski and the Burzynski Clinic apologize for these comments. Marc Stephens no longer has a professional relationship with the Burzynski Clinic.

These bloggers will be contacted by attorneys representing the Clinic informing them of the specific factual statements contained in these blogs which the Clinic believes are false and defamatory...
--------------

You can read the whole press release and Orac's response at http://scienceblogs.com/insolence/2011/11/the_burzynski_clinic_disavows_marc_stephens.php?utm_source=sbhomepage&utm_medium=link&utm_content=channellink.

He also has recent posts about the 90 minute infomercial "Burzynski" people insist on calling a documentary and the various ways the quack "Dr" has misrepresented his work and findings.

[EOTE]

20. This kid is awesome.

Anyone who'd sic his lawyer on a rather bright kid with a blog is beyond the pale. This kid should be highly commended for his works against quackery.