Thursday, April 23, 1998 | 11:06 a.m.
An alternative medicine conference organized by GOP gubernatorial candidate Aaron Russo is drawing fire from the medical profession.
In a brochure sent out last week to members of the health-care industry, attendees are asked to make out checks directly to Russo for the June 18-19 registration fee. The cost is $550 for physicians and $350 for non-physicians.
The brochure claims the county-run University Medical Center is a co-sponsor offering physicians and nurses up to 11 hours of Continuing Medical Education credits.
But this week, UMC officials notified Russo and co-organizer Kathleen Quinlan, of the Land of Love Foundation, that they never agreed to be a co-sponsor.
"We're a governmental entity, and we can't be involved with a political candidate," Bill Hale, UMC's chief executive officer, said Wednesday.
The brochure also claims to be conducting the two-day conference, billed as "Freedom of Choice Through Integrated Medicine," in accordance with "standards" of the Nevada State Medical Association.
But Larry Matheis, executive director of the medical association, said his group also has nothing to do with the symposium.
Matheis said the conference looks like an attempt by Russo to raise money for his campaign for governor.
"It just looks like an odd event to be offered as a continuing education program," Matheis said.
A picture of Russo with his young son, Sam, appears on the brochure along with a quote from the gubernatorial candidate.
"I believe every individual has the right to choose his doctor and medicine without interference from state or federal governments," Russo is quoted as saying. "When I am governor, Nevada will become a haven, an oasis, for freedom of choice in medicine for both doctors and patients."
Russo is listed as delivering the opening remarks at the conference.
Matheis, who oversees accreditation for health care organizations offering CME credits, said the taxpayer-funded UMC has a responsibility to correct any false claims being made by the conference's organizers.
This week, Bonnie Stuenkel, UMC's director of medical education, sent Quinlan a letter urging her to inform those who received the brochure that UMC has not approved the conference and is not offering CME credits.
Hale said Russo and Quinlan never got UMC's approval before printing the brochure listing them as a co-sponsor.
Hale said he first heard of Russo's involvement with the conference last week, when the brochure appeared in the mail.
"We have to approve all materials before we can certify and endorse it," Hale said.
Russo, however, said he has a letter from UMC backing his efforts.
"We would never put out this flier unless we had a letter from them endorsing it," Russo said.
Russo, a Hollywood producer who moved to Nevada in 1996 to run for governor, would not provide a reporter with a copy of the letter.
He also would not say what he and Quinlan would do about UMC's refusal to co-sponsor the event.
But Quinlan said she has no plans to change the brochure to indicate UMC is not a co-sponsor.
Quinlan said she has been working the past four months with Stuenkel to define UMC's role in the conference.
Stuenkel could not be reached for comment.
But Quinlan said she has a letter from Stuenkel directing her to put specific language in the brochure describing the nature of UMC's co-sponsorship.
Quinlan also disputed Hale's contention that the hospital did not see the brochure ahead of time.
She indicated UMC received a copy of the brochure in mid-March and was well aware of Russo's involvement.
Hale remained adamant this morning in his position that the hospital did not approve the brochure before it was sent out.
Russo said he had arranged a meeting with Hale on Monday "to try to resolve this like gentleman."
"I know we had proper grounds to do what we did," Russo said.
He also insisted he was not looking to use the conference to raise money for his gubernatorial bid.
Currently, Russo is locked in a Republican primary battle with Las Vegas businessman Kenny Guinn, who has raised $3 nearly million in campaign funds.
Russo attributed the controversy to "more political maneuvering" by his opponents.
"It's just politics," he said. "It has to do with my philosophy of medicine."
He said he was a "very strong believer in alternative health care" and wants to use the conference to discuss the value of merging both forms of medicine.
According to the brochure, the conference is being held at the Flamingo hotel-casino.
Also listed as co-sponsors for the event are Nevada Alternative Medicine Associates Inc., the Nevada Clinic and Healthcare 2000 Inc.
Quinlan, F. Fuller Royal of the Nevada Clinic, and J. Pamela Weiner of the University of Minnesota School of Public Health are listed as conference faculty.
Speakers in the alternative medicine field from all over the country have been invited to conduct seminars.
Such topics as "traditional Chinese medicine" and "the science of mind/body medicine" are being planned.
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