Miss. Medical Board Bars Ear Stapling

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Miss. Medical Board Bars Ear Stapling

Last Updated:

04-20-06 at 9:26AM

A state medical board has ordered 14 weight-loss businesses that

perform a procedure called ear stapling to close their doors,

alleging they are operating illegally.

Mal , executive director of the Mississippi Board of Medical

Licensure, said the action was taken after a board investigation

into complaints from people suffering from serious ear infections

and doctors treating more patients with infections and having to

remove the staples.

Because the businesses targeted receive compensation for offering

treatment for obesity, said, " That is practicing medicine.

They are, in fact, practicing medicine without a license. "

Ear stapling is a new, popular weight-loss procedure that draws from

ancient acupuncture and is cropping up throughout Mississippi, a

state with one of the highest obesity rates in the nation.

" We understand there are places (in Mississippi) serving 200 people

a day, " said.

In Mississippi, only doctors licensed in acupuncture are allowed to

perform acupuncture procedures. Other states allow people with

certification besides medical doctors to practice acupuncture.

" This is in effect acupuncture, " said of ear stapling.

Staple Trim LLC's ear-stapling location in Mendenhall was served

with the board's notice on Monday. As a precaution, Staple Trim

closed its Byram office Monday, said Sara Ward, who works in

supplies at Staple Trim.

Ward said the Byram location did not receive a letter and management

_ not the licensing board _ closed that location.

" We've not been told exactly what the stipulations are, " Ward said.

She said the business would remain closed until they could do

research about their right to operate.

Dr. Aena Payne, a board-certified acupuncturist at the University of

Mississippi Medical Center, said acupuncture on the ear can help

with weight loss, but she does not support ear stapling because of

the threat of infection and the belief the staple alone will yield

weight-loss results.

Payne said that even if the businesses use special equipment to

pinpoint the areas where the staple should be inserted, there is

still room for error because there are 300 different points in the

ear.

" One spot cannot do everything, " she said.

Payne said people who use acupuncture correctly for weight loss are

treated regularly and for a long time, supplementing their treatment

with proper diet and exercise. That option is expensive and not very

popular.

" I know people are frustrated with losing weight, but there is no

easy, fast way, " Payne said.

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