Doctor faces license hearing on flu shots

Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2004 | 9:37 a.m.

The Nevada Board of Osteopathic Medicine is to conduct a license hearing on Dec. 11 to determine whether a Las Vegas doctor violated his agreement not to practice medicine when he allegedly gave nonfederally approved flu shots this month.

The hearing for Dr. Ed Hoffman, operator of the Nevada Institute for Wellness and Longevity at 2701 N. Tenaya Way, is on the board's quarterly agenda, starting at 9 a.m. in room 4401 of the Sawyer State Office Building.

However, the board will not consider whether laws were violated by the alleged distribution of flu vaccine that was manufactured in and for Canada -- a product not yet approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, a board spokesman said.

"The issue of a doctor potentially importing medicine is a federal matter, and not part our jurisdiction," said Trey Delap, deputy executive director of the osteopathic board. "Just his (Hoffman's) license is at issue here."

Delap said the FDA has been notified of complaints to the board that flu shots not approved by that agency may have been issued by the local clinic.

Lenore Gelb, a spokeswoman at the FDA headquarters in Bethesda, Md., said it is the policy of the agency not to confirm or deny whether it is conducting an ongoing investigation.

Delap said he also alerted the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services and the Nevada Pharmacy Board to determine if there is a public health threat from the use of non-FDA-approved flu vaccine.

Delap said, based on discussions with federal and state authorities, patients who believe they have received a flu shot that is not federally approved should contact the Health District or their personal physicians for advice.

Delap said Hoffman, to settle a sexual misconduct complaint, agreed on May 15 to stop practicing medicine by June 15 and not practice again until he received an order from the board.

Hoffman, however, was allowed to continue to operate his clinic in a nonmedical role and continue to profit from the business, Delap said.

"A new complaint will be served that he violated the agreement," Delap said.

Calls to Hoffman and the Nevada Institute for Wellness and Longevity seeking comment were not returned Monday.