Board revokes license of Elko chiropractor

Monday, July 27, 1998 | 1:43 a.m.

Following a two-day hearing, the board on Sunday revoked the license of Roy Hansen and found him guilty of numerous counts of unprofessional conduct and failure to exercise the community standard of care.

In taking the action, the board determined Hansen promised patients he could cure cancer through oxygenated baths and special diets. It was further determined that some of his patients did not have the disease, the board said in a written statement.

"Dr. Hansen was found to have made representations that were grossly improbable, were meant to deceive, defraud and mislead the public," the board's statement said.

A complaint filed by the board in March accused Hansen of six charges involving three patients.

One incident involved his treatment in 1993 of a 6-month-old girl, who had been born three months premature and was suffering from respiratory problems.

Hansen treated the infant with herbal remedies and a chiropractic adjustment, the board said. After about the third visit and when the child's condition continued to worsen, Hansen told the mother to take her to the hospital, where the child went into cardiac arrest and died.

According to the complaint, emergency room staff said the little girl would not have died if she had received earlier medical treatment.

The chiropractic board said Hansen failed to keep records of his treatment of the girl, inform the mother of risks of the child's illness or recommend that she seek other medical treatment.

In 1997, the complaint said Hansen told one patient suffering from bladder cancer and another with leukemia that his bath treatments could cure their cancer.

Criminal charges against Hansen are pending in Elko, where he faces two felony counts of practicing medicine without a license.