The Latest News and Updates
You can always check this page to see the latest news and updates to the site.
If this is your first time visiting this site, please visit our
Welcome page
for an introduction to what Washington CHOICE is all about.
Dr. Ames needs your support.
March 20th, 9:30 A.M. the Supreme Court of the State of Washington, located at the State Capitol in
Olympia, will hear Dr. Ames case.
If you can attend and stand in support of Dr. Ames on March 20th during the Supreme Court action, please do!
It is very important that we continue to support our doctors who are required to take these extreme measures
for us to keep our right to healthcare choice.
For links to directions and parking information,
click here.
Dr. Ames demonstrated (but didn’t even use) an electrodermal testing device [EAV] to a patient.
Although not harmed in any way, the patient complained to the Washington State Medical “Quality”
Assurance Commission about the device itself. This case cost Dr. Ames and his family over $250,000
and his license was suspended for five years.
For more information on Dr. Ames and his case
please read the full article here.
For a copy of the Amicus brief filed on behalf of Dr. Ames by Washington Choice.
Click here.
After Washington Choice developed this brief, two other organizations have risen to
support Dr. Ames case.
Radio Interview promoting HB 1032
Dr. Jonathan Wright, pioneering leader in the field of holistic medicine and medical director of Tahoma Clinic,
was recently interviewed by Mike Siegel—well known radio talk show host.
To listen to the interview, click here..
Issues addressed-- Bill HB 1032 (our bill for healthcare freedom), key issues regarding the FDA and efforts
to make professional life safer for holistic physicians ensuring that natural and nutritionally oriented health care
remains available to all of us.
Dr. Wright continues to work tirelessly for our ability to have healthcare choice.
We appreciate his efforts and believe he deserves a big “Thank you.”
2009 begins with new bill and continued action...
The news has been packed with information about what is going on at the national and local levels of government.
We, in Washington State, are well aware of the huge budget deficit that we face and the challenges of our legislature
and governor to cut costs while keeping and maintaining key programs.
And, in the midst of all this, we at WaChoice are also strongly committed to continuing our efforts to insure
that you have access to the health care practitioners of your choice because we know the importance of this issue.
And, we are making progress...
With your help, WaCHOICE made substantial progress in 2008. We were instrumental in drafting Senate Bill (SB) 5509.
This bill was designed to protect holistic physicians from harassment from organizations like MQAC.
The Washington State Senate passed SB 5509 by a unanimous vote of 43-0. Unfortunately, due to roadblocks, this
legislation wasn't considered by the State House of Representatives.
This challenge doesn't mean we quit, it just means we move forward and with your continued help,
we feel that our chances in 2009 are excellent.
Washington State Representative Tom Campbell, a 10-year veteran of the legislature,
has written and introduced a new piece of
legislation, HB 1032.
This legislation calls for an investigation into the difference between MQAC's treatment of mainstream and holistic
physicians. In the past, we have shared examples of how Washington State has unjustly
attacked holistic physicians.
Here is where we need your help…..Please…
* Contact the legislative members listed below and urge them to hold a hearing on HB 1032.
We have listed each of the committee members along with their email addresses and phone numbers.
Handwritten, personal letters are another excellent way of getting our representatives attention.
Please use all three means of communication (email, phone and letters) as each form of communication
has an important purpose and will drive home our very important message.
Thank you for your continued support and check back often for updates.
Solid evidence proves the FDA is “broken”
In addition to examples of FDA actions that demonstrate a complete lack of regard for human safety, the FDA,
by its own admission, is “broken.” Over a year ago, the agency released a report entitled, “FDA Science and Mission
at Risk: Report of the Subcommittee on Science and Technology.” Throughout this report, there are numerous findings
that repeatedly demonstrate the need for change in this agency and clear evidence that indeed the FDA is “broken.”
The following are some of the FDA’s findings revealed in this report.
The FDA….
- can’t fulfill its mission because its scientific base has eroded and its scientific organizational structure is weak.
- can’t fulfill its mission because its scientific workforce does not have sufficient capacity and capability.
- can’t fulfill its mission because its information technology (IT) infrastructure is inadequate.
- doesn’t have the capacity to ensure the safety of food for the nation.
- lacks a coherent structure and vision, as well as effective coordination and prioritization.
- has substantial recruitment and retention challenges.
- has an inadequate and ineffective program for scientist performance.
- has not taken sufficient advantage of external and internal collaborations.
- lacks the information science capability and information infrastructure to fulfill is regulatory mandate.
- can’t provide the information infrastructure support to regulate products based on “new science”.
- can’t adequately regulate the development of medical products based on “new science”
- has insufficient capacity in modeling risk assessment and analysis.
- can't even keep up with the advances in science.
You can read the full report- by
clicking here.
Now, time for action…please sign the AAHF petition for FDA reform….
The American Association for Health Freedom (AAHF) is leading a campaign to begin the process of reforming the FDA.
It starts with a petition that will be delivered to Congress.
Please visit by clicking here. to
sign the Petition to
Reform the FDA as soon as possible—and ask everyone you know to follow your lead—there is power in numbers and our
voices will be heard more loudly and clearly the more of us who show our support by signing this petition.
Thank you for your support!!
And.
For more information on this situation, click here.
to find “Straight from the horse’s mouth:
The shocking FDA admission you haven’t heard about.” This article appeared in Dr. Wright’s newsletter,
Nutrition & Healing, August, 2008 and has more detailed information on the background on issues surrounding the FDA.
Your doctor may be “allowed” to prescribe estriol-containing BHRT---But not able to afford it.
Latest attack strategy
The latest attack on bio-identical hormone replacement therapy may be the most underhanded yet.
Rather than outlawing estriol-containing BHRT entirely, the FDA is “allowing” physicians to prescribe it—but
only if each and every estriol-containing prescription is “covered” by an Investigational New Drug application.
That may sound like a small price to pay, but there lots of hidden costs on that seemingly “reasonable” price tag.
What are those obstacles?
The Investigational New Drug (IND) applications are about 40 pages long.
Every IND application must be supervised by an Institutional Review Board.
The prescribing physician is responsible for coordinating and financing the Review Board—a process
that could take months and cost $25,000+ per application.
Then there is the review process itself that the IND is subjected to before the BHRT
prescription can be “approved” and filled. That process takes a minimum of 30 days to complete.
So, it could take months—even up to a year—before a single estriol-containing BHRT prescription can be filled by a
patient who needs it. This doesn’t even address the costs associated with this process.
Essentially, since over 80 percent of BHRT prescriptions contain estriol, in quantities specific to each woman,
this new proposal by the FDA is just a different way to make it impossible for people to choose estriol-containing
BHRT—by attacking their doctors’ ability to prescribe it.
Action needed!!
Please write to the FDA and let them know that you find this new rule unreasonable, and that as a
citizen of these United States, you demand the freedom to choose natural health care options—including
estriol and BHRT.
The American Association for Health Freedom provided a quick and easy way to make your voice heard.
Click here. Letters written using this feature are faxed
directly to the FDA Commissioner, Andrew von Eschenbach. And, even better, copies of your letters to the FDA are also
simultaneously sent to your state senators and representatives.
For Dr. Wright’s full article regarding this matter,
Click here.
Support House Concurrent Resolution 342
The AAHF (American Association for Health Freedom) has taken up the cause—and Wyeth—regarding this issue
of our right to choose bio-identical hormones. Earlier this summer, it placed a full-page ad in Roll Call,
the Congressional newspaper, with the headline “Shame on you, Wyeth.” The ad blows the whistle on the company’s
self-serving role in the FDA’s restriction of estriol and BHRT.
For a look at the ad and more information--
Click here.
Then refer to the PDF entitled "Did you see our ad in June 3rd issue of Roll Call?" for the ad.
Even more exciting is that the AAHF website offers an easy link so you can send your feedback
supporting House Concurrent Resolution 342 directly to your Congressmen.
Click here. then simply fill in the information at the
right-hand side of the page and the American Association for Health Freedom will send a form letter supporting
House Concurrent Resolution 342 directly to your Congressmen.
Once again, it’s imperative for you to make your voice heard right away (and continue to send
requent reminders), letting your representatives know that you support House Concurrent Resolution 342 and
the freedom of health care choice that it represents—and that you expect them to do the same.
For Dr. Wright’s full article regarding this matter,
Click here.
House Resolution Introduced
In May, seven members of the House of Representatives –from both major political parties
and six states—introduced a resolution titled House Concurrent Resolution 342. This resolution
calls for the FDA to reverse its new policy, stating that “restricting women’s access to medications
containing estriol does not serve the public interest.”
Applause-please
We applaud and thank the following house members who introduced and co-sponsored this resolution.
Those members include:
Rep. Mike Ross (D-Ark.)
Rep. Jo Ann Emerson (R-Mo.)
Rep. Sam Farr (D-Calif.)
Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.)
Rep. Michael Burgess (R-Texas),
Rep. John Carter (R-Texas)
Rep. Gabrielle Giffords.
Further action needed.
We can’t stop now. Once again, we need you to write, call, fax and email your senators and representatives
sending them frequent reminders letting them know that you support House Concurrent Resolution 342 and expect
them to support it also.
How to contact your representatives
For contact information for your congressmen, go to the following
U.S. House of Representatives website, Click here.
Senate website, Click here.
Link for locating and writing to your representatives, visit
Click here.
No access to the internet, you can find contact information for your state’s members
of Congress by calling the United States Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121.
Help us keep this resolution alive and moving forward.
For Dr. Wright’s full article regarding this matter,
Click here.
The FDA’s attack against natural hormones and how you can fight back.
Click here " Your access to safe,
natural hormones is under fire!" --Dr. Wright’s latest article on the FDA’s assault in the war on bio-identical
hormones.
This articles covers
- Background on the current situation
- What the FDA is saying
- The truth about natural hormones
- Why the FDA is taking this action
- Other examples of FDA actions and how money controls
- How we must act now and what we must do
Also, visit "FDA Bans
Hormone Produced by Human Body as “Unapproved” Drug" for Dr. Wright's article reviewing
the latest FDA attack.
This article reviews
- How Bio-Identical Estriol is safe
- What is actually happening
- Why the FDA is so hostile to “natural” medicine
- Why we should have a choice
Please act now by contacting your congressional representative, senators and the White House.
Click here for more facts and ways to help the HOME
(HANDS OFF MY ESTROGENS) coalition .
We appreciate your continued support. Thank you.
“Expert testimony … is not essential”
Yes, you read that right. The paragraph below is from the official document concluding the case against
Dr. Geoffrey Ames by the State of Washington Department of Health Medical Quality Assurance Commission (MQAC),
Docket No. 02-06-A-1012MD, Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law and Final Order, signed by MQAC by Cabell Tennis, JD,
MQAC Panel Chair, May 30, 2007.
"Expert testimony is helpful, but not essential to the Department's case, nor would the lack of such
testimony either support or require dismissal of the charges against Respondent. Johnston v. Washington
State Medical Disciplinary Board, 99 Wn.2d 466, 663 P.2d 457 (1983); Brown v. State Department of Health,
Dental Disciplinary Board, 94 Wn. App. 7, 972 P.2d 101 (1998). Based on the Johnston and Brown cases, the
Commission can use its own expertise to evaluate the standard of care regarding the Respondent's actions
with Patient One. No additional expert is necessary to resolve this case. RCW 34.05.461(5)."
This is why we absolutely need legislation that requires experts who practice the actual protocol
or at least are familiar with holistic treatments and the philosophy to be involved in the process.
Live with Dr. Wright on the latest FDA challenge
Dr. Jonathan Wright, pioneering leader in the field of holistic medicine, will be interviewed on
the Rollye James Show on February 14 from 7-9PM to talk about the FDA’s attack against the use of
bio-identical hormones.
Here's the story ...
On January 9, 2008, the FDA ordered pharmacies across the country to stop providing bio-identical estriol.
80% of bio-identical hormone replacement therapy prescriptions use estriol. And, the FDA, by its own admission,
admits that no adverse event involving compounded bio-identical estriol has ever been reported.
In addition, to addressing many key issues including the latest effort by the FDA to banish bio-identical hormones,
Dr. Wright will talk about HOME (Hands off My Estrogens!) coalition and
how we are fighting back at this latest assault.
Dr. Ames gets support on his day in court—thanks to you
Source: As appears in February 2008 Dr. Jonathan V. Wright's Nutrition &
Healing Newsletter www.wrightnewsletter.com
You may remember the case of holistic physician Geoffrey Ames, M.D., discussed in detail in the June
2006 issue. He demonstrated (but didn’t even use) an electrodermal testing device [EAV] to a patient.
Although not harmed in any way, the patient complained to the Washington State Medical “Quality”
Assurance Commission (our old “friend” M“Q”AC) about the device itself. After persecution costing Dr. Ames
and his wife over $250,000 (which they had to re-finance their house to pay), the M“Q”AC suspended his
medical license for five years.
They threw him a bone, albeit a rotten one, when they “stayed” Dr. Ames’ suspension on the
conditions that he send in chart notes from 10 allergy patients every three months, along with
a signed affidavit that he is not using his EAV machine and that he submit to M“Q”AC interrogation
every six months for five years.
Dr. Ames appealed these penalties to the regular appellate courts, but was denied.
His case has now been appealed to the Washington State Supreme Court.
One major issue in Dr. Ames’ Supreme Court appeal is that the M“Q”AC can declare anyone it wishes
an “expert” witness to testify on its behalf—which means against Dr. Ames. And in a sickening loophole
of our administrative “justice” system,it doesn’t matter at all if the “expert witness” appointed by the
M“Q”AC has any background or experience at all in the area they’re testifying about— in Dr. Ames’ case, the
practice of the holistic medicine.
I’m no legal expert (although I’ve been forced by attacks from both los Federales and M“Q”AC to learn a
lot more about the law than I ever wanted to know), but I’ve been told by legal experts that “amicus curiae”
(friend of the court) legal briefs can sometimes be very important in cases appealed to the Supreme Court,
especially “amicus” briefs from groups with public support like you’ve given Washington CHOICE.
So when the Washington Supreme Court granted permission for Washington CHOICE’s attorney to file an “amicus”
brief supporting Dr. Ames’ appeal, I knew Washington CHOICE had to raise the money for an attorney to write it.
Thanks to your help from last year and a very generous donation from Dr. Jon Mundall (another holistic physician
recently targeted —with no patient complaint—by M“Q”AC) and his wife, Eloyce, and another from Stephen
Smith, M.D., (himself the victim of M“Q”AC—see Nutrition & Healing for October 2006) we’ve been able to raise
most of the funds to support the brief-writing and filing.
Once Dr. Ames’ own appeal and the “amicus” brief are filed and put on the public record, they will be posted at
on our site. Please check for them there, and help support this effort if you can.
(Our website support funds are running low!) It’s very important to the ability of holistic MDs to practice
without harassment in Washington State!
Please help Washington CHOICE help you!
The Washington State legislature has likely already gone into session before you received this issue.
Your telephone calls, letters, e-mails, and other communications are vital to protecting your access to
natural, holistic health care from MDs (including me) and DOs in Washington State! Please stay in touch with
Washington CHOICE for the latest updates and contact data, and do whatever you can to help. Thank you so much!
For more information on the challenges facing holistic medicine including 18 articles reprinted from Dr. Wright's
Nutrition and Healing Newsletter click here
Live with Dr. Wright
Dr. Jonathan Wright, pioneering leader in the field of holistic medicine and medical director of
Tahoma Clinic, will be interviewed on the Rollye James Show on January 31 from 7-10PM.
Dr. Wright will be addressing many key issues including the latest effort by the FDA to banish
bio-identical hormones. And, he will talk about Washington CHOICE and our efforts to make professional
life safer for holistic physicians ensuring that natural and nutritionally oriented health care remains available
to all of us.
Amicus brief filed on behalf of Dr. Geoff Ames
Dr. Geoff Ames was investigated and charged, facing numerous serious sanctions, for
demonstrating (but not using) an electro dermal testing device (EAV) to a patient.
We felt that this action was so egregious that Washington Choice has prepared and
filed with the Supreme Court a supporting legal document called an Amicus Brief.
An Amicus Brief is filed with the courts when a specific case has broader implications
than the single action in process. The Brief provides a way to draw attention and
aid addressing the court on behalf of Dr. Ames's appeal.
Amicus curiae, refers to someone, not a party to a case, who volunteers to offer
information on a point of law or some other aspect of the case to assist the court
in deciding a matter before it. The information may be a legal opinion in the form
of a brief – testimony that has not been solicited by any of the parties – or a
learned treatise on a matter that bears on the case.
Please read the full article here.
Article from Nutrition & Healing Health e-Tips, 12/13/07
Well-known natural medicine commentator Amanda Ross, in the national-international
newsletter Nutrition & Health e-Tips, published an article last week effectively
describing our current challenges and ways her readers could help. Ross's article
outlines how the Medical 'Quality' Assurance Commission (M'Q'AC) in our state has
been persecuting holistic medicine practitioners -- including Dr. Wright -- under
the guise of "protecting" the public.
Please read the full article here.
Comments from a Funding Donor
"The only way these Gov't agencies can justify their existence is to manufacture false problems. Keep on fighting!"
Thank you all for your support. Pease send your comments and personal stories by linking to
Contact Us .
We love to hear from you and will publish supporter comments from time to time.
War on Holistic ... telephones?
Dr. Jonathan V. Wright, internationally known holistic medicine expert, author,
and trainer, is again under the scrutiny of the Washington State Department of
Health and this time it is for the telephone system at his Tahoma Clinic, Renton,
Washington. As surprising as this complaint sounds, this is yet another example of
how our Department of Health is attacking "holistic" healthcare providers and
chipping away at our ability to have health care choices.
For a full review of this situation, including the full documents listed below
please read the full article.
- Dr. Wright's response (to be published in his national newsletter) to this newest allegation.
- The letter sent by the State of Washington Department of Health (DOH) to Dr. Wright.
- A letter from Dr. Wright's counsel to the Department of Health.
