Jun. 17, 2011

The Food and Drug Administration honored San Diego County Deputy District Attorney Gina Darvas for prosecuting a defendant who posed as a naturopathic doctor who claimed to have the cure for cancer. “In this case, the defendant preyed upon victims who were particularly vulnerable, giving them false hope and jeopardizing their health by intentionally spiking his remedies with a non-FDA approved drug,” said District Attorney Bonnie M. Dumanis. Defendant Kurt W. Donsbach advertised his natural medicines and diagnosed consumers from phone calls answered on his Internet radio show. He advised listeners to attend his alleged hospital in Rosarito Beach, Mexico. His medicines in fact contained sterioids and a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug that is not approved for use in the U.S. due to the drug’s imminent hazard to public health. With Darvas’ help, Donsbach plead guilty to five counts of practicing medicine without a license, five counts of selling misbranded drugs with intent to defraud, two counts grand theft and one count of felon in possession of a firearm. He was sentenced to a year in jail, fined $60,000 and given 10 years felony probation with a yet to be determined amount of restitution. Consumers are encouraged to file complaints with the Economic Crimes Consumer referral line of the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office at 619-531-3507 or report suspicious drug activity directly to the FDA.