UMC must steer clear of Russo event, DA affirms

Friday, April 24, 1998 | 10:04 a.m.

University Medical Center is prohibited by law from co-sponsoring an alternative medicine conference organized by GOP gubernatorial candidate Aaron Russo, District Attorney Stewart Bell said Thursday.

"To the extent that it is a political forum, UMC is not going to participate," Bell said.

Bell said no county agency is allowed to become involved in political events.

"We have to be neutral," he said. "It looks like there's going to be an obligation for the UMC to do what it can to force the Russo folks to notify all prospective applicants that UMC is not a part of this so that they know what they're getting for their money."

Earlier this week, the county-funded UMC came to that same conclusion, when it informed Russo and conference co-organizer Kathleen Quinlan that it did not have permission to use its name to promote the June 18-19 conference at the Flamingo Hilton hotel-casino.

UMC sent a letter to Quinlan urging her to notify those looking to attend the conference they would be ineligible to receive Continuing Medical Education credits under UMC's auspices.

Russo and Quinlan contend they had permission to list UMC as a co-sponsor on a brochure mailed last week throughout the state soliciting health care professionals to attend the conference.

The registration fee is $550 for physicians and $350 for non-physicians.

Checks are asked to be made out directly to Russo, who is locked in a Republican primary battle with well-funded Las Vegas businessman Kenny Guinn.

Larry Matheis, executive director of the Nevada State Medical Center, has suggested the two-day conference looks like an attempt by Russo to raise money for his campaign.

Russo, however, has denied using the conference to bolster his campaign coffers.

He said he is a strong believer in alternative health care and hopes the conference will help find a way to merge the two forms of medicine.

Russo has arranged a meeting with Hale Monday afternoon in an attempt to resolve the dispute.

Others listed with Russo and UMC as co-sponsors on the brochure are Nevada Alternative Medicine Associates Inc., the Nevada Clinic and Health Care 2000 Inc.