Time is running out for Dr Stanislaw Burzynski

Surely this can’t go on for much longer.

Clinical trials on Burzynski’s signature treatment, antineoplastons, were stopped following the death of a child and horrifying findings by the US FDA. But Burzynski is still in business selling chemotherapy in untested and unapproved combinations, describing critics as hooligans and suggesting that former patients are prostitutes and crooks trying to make money from him.

And despite the trials having been stopped and despite serious and well documented issues, there are still recent misleading articles in the British press, casting Burzynski in a positive light.

For further background on Burzynski and on recent developments, I strongly recommend you read the recent USA Today investigation by Liz Szabo. It is an impressive piece of work – thorough, fair, accurate and utterly shocking. Watch the accompanying videos, view the embedded source documents and then ask how on earth Burzynski is still going.

Ask for Evidence on “miracle” cancer cures

Sense about Science are highlighting miracle cancer cures as part of their Ask for Evidence campaign.

This post aims to highlight the harm done by “miracle” cures and to suggest what evidence hunters can do to tackle this. It also gives examples of when action has had an effect and the ways those selling such treatments can wriggle out of trouble.

Did Burzynski lie to the BBC?

In this clip from tonight’s BBC Panorama, Dr Burzynski makes some rather bold and misleading claims about antineoplastons. I think he could be lying.

Burzynski: the false promise of antineoplastons

With the support of their local communities, cancer patients are still fundraising to travel to America for antineoplastons, a reportedly pioneering treatment not available in the UK.

In fact this treatment isn’t available anywhere except the Burzynski Clinic, and only to patients who are already on it. Antineoplastons disappeared from the clinic website in January. It is believed that following a recent inspection, the US FDA have closed the “clinical trials” loophole that had been allowing Burzynski to sell these old, unproven drugs to terminal cancer patients.

If this is the case, it is not a fact anyone seems keen to share with families still hoping for a miracle cure. Patients are misled and misinformed at every turn – by the clinic themselves, by lazy and cowardly journalism, by conspiracy theorist cranks, and even by registered charities.

Burzynski sued again

There’s a new case to add to Burzynski’s long list of lawsuits.

On 13th April 2013, Vern Richert, individually and as representative of the Estate of his wife Meridee Richert, filed a petition against Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota (BCBSM) and Dr S R Burzynski, dba Burzynski Clinic.

Meridee Richert was a patient at the Burzynski Clinic and passed away on 28th July 2011.

According to Mr Richert’s petition, in January, 2010, Mrs Richert was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Her health insurance policy with BCBSM provided payment for medical expenses in the event of an injury or illness. She sought treatment with Dr Burzynski, who represented that he and the Burzynski Clinic were familiar with BCBSM. The Burzynski Clinic informed Mrs Richert that her policy under BCBSM would cover its services. They also stated that insurance proceeds were slow to be recovered and required Mr and Mrs Richert to advance over $50,000.00 to begin and continue treatment.