February 11, 2010
Case # 09CF2349
SELF-PROCLAIMED NATURAL DOCTOR SENTENCED FOR TREATING CANCER PATIENTS
WITHOUT A LICENSE AND PRACTICING MEDICINE WHILE RUNNING ILLEGAL HMO
*Defendant received publicity in Orange County Register feature article for "curing" so-called patients
SANTA ANA - An unlicensed man claiming to be a natural-medicine "doctor" was sentenced today for
posing as a "doctor" and claiming to heal serious or incurable diseases including cancer and AIDS.
Daryn Wayne Peterson, 37, Las Vegas, NV, pleaded guilty Dec. 8, 2009, to one felony count each of
the unauthorized practice of medicine, operating a health care service plan (HMO) without a license,
offering an unapproved drug for cancer treatment, and one misdemeanor count of selling misbranded
food. Peterson was sentenced to five years of formal probation, 270 days in jail, and is prohibited
from working in any medical field or selling any vitamins or pharmaceuticals for the duration of his
probation.
On June 10, 2009, the Orange County Register published a color-picture article on the front page of
the Life/Wellness section of the newspaper titled A rejection of Western medicine with subheading,
Clients swear by natural treatments, but many others doubtful. An online version of the same story
was posted the day before with the headline, 'Natural doctor' says he can cure cancer, AIDS.
The article featured Peterson, a self-proclaimed doctor, claiming to cure cancer and AIDS, and
encouraging "patients" to cancel their health insurance policies. In the article, Peterson represented
that his supplements have cured "cancer, AIDS, peanut allergies and heart failure." That morning,
alarmed by the potential health risks to the community and the recklessness of the article, the OCDA
began an investigation into the matter.
The defendant practiced medicine without possessing any professional licenses issued by the State
of California. In order to practice medicine in this State, a doctor must pass comprehensive medical
exams and be licensed by the State of California to practice medicine and dispense prescriptions.
Licensed California doctors are regulated by the California Medical Board to ensure the safe medical
treatment of the public. Other medical professionals are governed by their own licensing boards and
provide limits to their scope of practice.
Peterson falsely claimed to be a doctor with a PhD diploma from "Canterbury University." OCDA
Investigators determined that "Canterbury University" is not a real learning institution and were able to
obtain the exact same PhD diploma from the same "Canterbury University" by paying $180 on the
Internet.
Peterson operated Natural Health Care Organization (www.naturalhealthcoverage.com), a website
offering "Natural Health Insurance" and claiming to provide pre-paid "subscribers" with unlimited
access by email, telephone or in person to their "own Natural Doctor," who has "success in stopping
disease without drugs and surgery." None of the purported "doctors" listed on the website are
licensed to practice medicine in California. Peterson posted "testimonials" on the website, claiming to
be from "patients," asserting that Natural Health Care Organization "doctors" have cured diseases
including leukemia, diabetes, Crohn's disease, prostate cancer, migraines, and restless leg
syndrome. Peterson also falsely represented his healthcare supplements as organic, labeling them
with United States Department of Agriculture seals on the packaging, despite none of his products
being organic.
At the time the article was published, the defendant ran his business using a mail drop-box located on
Marguerite Parkway in Mission Viejo and treated his "patients" in his Orange County residence. In the
course of the investigation, an undercover OCDA Investigator signed up on Peterson's website as a
potential "patient." Peterson communicated with the "patient" online, and later met the "patient" at his
apartment in Mira Loma, CA.
After hearing that the "patient" had been diagnosed with lymphoma and was scared of the
chemotherapy recommended by his doctor, Peterson told the "patient" that he treats many cancer
patients, that the chemotherapy would kill him faster than the cancer, and boasted an 88 percent
success rate in treating all types of cancer, including Lymphoma. Peterson told the "patient" that he
could "expect almost complete reversal" within one year of taking his "all-natural" vitamins and natural
supplements on a daily basis. He performed a medical examination of the "patient," including
listening to his heart while asking him to breathe and looking in his eyes.
Peterson prescribed his personal healthcare supplement, "Dr. P's Mega-Multi 100" to the undercover
investigator "patient." He instructed the "patient" to take six teaspoons per day to cure his lymphoma.
The OCDA had the substance analyzed and the results showed that two teaspoons of "Dr. P's
Mega-Multi 100" contained more than six times the daily legal limit of lead. Peterson's prescription to
the "patient," who was ostensibly battling cancer, would have subjected the "patient" to more than 18
times the daily legal limit of lead.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the California Department of Health Care Services
have not approved any of the supplements recommended by Peterson for the treatment of cancer.
Doctors are authorized by law to represent that they have an effective treatment for cancer only if the
drug has been approved by the FDA. A medical "drug" is defined as anything approved by the FDA
for treatment of a specific disease.
Peterson also offered patients an "insurance" plan or an HMO not licensed by the California
Department of Managed Health Care or the Department of Insurance, as required by law. California
law prohibits unauthorized and unlicensed businesses from offering pre-paid health services to
protect consumers and patients from being defrauded. The law protects consumers from not
receiving health care for which treatments were paid in advance.
Peterson is related to one of the "patients" featured in the Orange County Register story. His
biological sister, Selena Lori Peterson, merely dropped her last name for the Orange County Register
story, which did not address the relationship between Peterson and his "patients." The male "patient"
featured in the story was Selena Lori Peterson's boyfriend.
Deputy District Attorney Lesley Young of the Consumer Protection Unit prosecuted this case.
###
Case # 09CF2349
SELF-PROCLAIMED NATURAL DOCTOR SENTENCED FOR TREATING CANCER PATIENTS
WITHOUT A LICENSE AND PRACTICING MEDICINE WHILE RUNNING ILLEGAL HMO
*Defendant received publicity in Orange County Register feature article for "curing" so-called patients
SANTA ANA - An unlicensed man claiming to be a natural-medicine "doctor" was sentenced today for
posing as a "doctor" and claiming to heal serious or incurable diseases including cancer and AIDS.
Daryn Wayne Peterson, 37, Las Vegas, NV, pleaded guilty Dec. 8, 2009, to one felony count each of
the unauthorized practice of medicine, operating a health care service plan (HMO) without a license,
offering an unapproved drug for cancer treatment, and one misdemeanor count of selling misbranded
food. Peterson was sentenced to five years of formal probation, 270 days in jail, and is prohibited
from working in any medical field or selling any vitamins or pharmaceuticals for the duration of his
probation.
On June 10, 2009, the Orange County Register published a color-picture article on the front page of
the Life/Wellness section of the newspaper titled A rejection of Western medicine with subheading,
Clients swear by natural treatments, but many others doubtful. An online version of the same story
was posted the day before with the headline, 'Natural doctor' says he can cure cancer, AIDS.
The article featured Peterson, a self-proclaimed doctor, claiming to cure cancer and AIDS, and
encouraging "patients" to cancel their health insurance policies. In the article, Peterson represented
that his supplements have cured "cancer, AIDS, peanut allergies and heart failure." That morning,
alarmed by the potential health risks to the community and the recklessness of the article, the OCDA
began an investigation into the matter.
The defendant practiced medicine without possessing any professional licenses issued by the State
of California. In order to practice medicine in this State, a doctor must pass comprehensive medical
exams and be licensed by the State of California to practice medicine and dispense prescriptions.
Licensed California doctors are regulated by the California Medical Board to ensure the safe medical
treatment of the public. Other medical professionals are governed by their own licensing boards and
provide limits to their scope of practice.
Peterson falsely claimed to be a doctor with a PhD diploma from "Canterbury University." OCDA
Investigators determined that "Canterbury University" is not a real learning institution and were able to
obtain the exact same PhD diploma from the same "Canterbury University" by paying $180 on the
Internet.
Peterson operated Natural Health Care Organization (www.naturalhealthcoverage.com), a website
offering "Natural Health Insurance" and claiming to provide pre-paid "subscribers" with unlimited
access by email, telephone or in person to their "own Natural Doctor," who has "success in stopping
disease without drugs and surgery." None of the purported "doctors" listed on the website are
licensed to practice medicine in California. Peterson posted "testimonials" on the website, claiming to
be from "patients," asserting that Natural Health Care Organization "doctors" have cured diseases
including leukemia, diabetes, Crohn's disease, prostate cancer, migraines, and restless leg
syndrome. Peterson also falsely represented his healthcare supplements as organic, labeling them
with United States Department of Agriculture seals on the packaging, despite none of his products
being organic.
At the time the article was published, the defendant ran his business using a mail drop-box located on
Marguerite Parkway in Mission Viejo and treated his "patients" in his Orange County residence. In the
course of the investigation, an undercover OCDA Investigator signed up on Peterson's website as a
potential "patient." Peterson communicated with the "patient" online, and later met the "patient" at his
apartment in Mira Loma, CA.
After hearing that the "patient" had been diagnosed with lymphoma and was scared of the
chemotherapy recommended by his doctor, Peterson told the "patient" that he treats many cancer
patients, that the chemotherapy would kill him faster than the cancer, and boasted an 88 percent
success rate in treating all types of cancer, including Lymphoma. Peterson told the "patient" that he
could "expect almost complete reversal" within one year of taking his "all-natural" vitamins and natural
supplements on a daily basis. He performed a medical examination of the "patient," including
listening to his heart while asking him to breathe and looking in his eyes.
Peterson prescribed his personal healthcare supplement, "Dr. P's Mega-Multi 100" to the undercover
investigator "patient." He instructed the "patient" to take six teaspoons per day to cure his lymphoma.
The OCDA had the substance analyzed and the results showed that two teaspoons of "Dr. P's
Mega-Multi 100" contained more than six times the daily legal limit of lead. Peterson's prescription to
the "patient," who was ostensibly battling cancer, would have subjected the "patient" to more than 18
times the daily legal limit of lead.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the California Department of Health Care Services
have not approved any of the supplements recommended by Peterson for the treatment of cancer.
Doctors are authorized by law to represent that they have an effective treatment for cancer only if the
drug has been approved by the FDA. A medical "drug" is defined as anything approved by the FDA
for treatment of a specific disease.
Peterson also offered patients an "insurance" plan or an HMO not licensed by the California
Department of Managed Health Care or the Department of Insurance, as required by law. California
law prohibits unauthorized and unlicensed businesses from offering pre-paid health services to
protect consumers and patients from being defrauded. The law protects consumers from not
receiving health care for which treatments were paid in advance.
Peterson is related to one of the "patients" featured in the Orange County Register story. His
biological sister, Selena Lori Peterson, merely dropped her last name for the Orange County Register
story, which did not address the relationship between Peterson and his "patients." The male "patient"
featured in the story was Selena Lori Peterson's boyfriend.
Deputy District Attorney Lesley Young of the Consumer Protection Unit prosecuted this case.
###
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