Clients say naturopath improved well-being

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Clients say naturopath improved well-being

By: SUSAN HOFFMANN, The Daily Republic March 29, 2002

Five people testified Thursday that their overall health improved when they

were under the care of a naturopath charged with practicing

medicine without a license.

Jerry Glanzer, a Bridgewater farmer, said that when naturopath Colleen

Harvey told him to take a bath in water as hot as he could stand and

peroxide, he saw immediate improvements in his health. " After that point I

saw immediate relief, " Glanzer said. " All this chemical came out of my

body. "

Harvey is charged with practicing medicine without a license and engaging in

deceptive trade practices. The charges stem from a complaint received by the

South Dakota Attorney General after the death of Dorothy Dietrich, a

Brookings woman who died in June 2000 from cancer. Dr. Schossow, a

friend of Dietrich, called Attorney General Mark Barnett about Harvey's

activities.

The trial began Monday at the on County Courthouse and resumes with

closing arguments at 9 a.m. today. Circuit Judge Lee said Thursday

that he would review the exhibits and his notes overnight and may rule on

the case soon after today's closing arguments.

In her practice as a naturopath, Harvey uses a device known as a Computron

to evaluate the body's energy level at specific points on the hands and

feet. The energy level readings are then transferred from the Computron to

Harvey's personal computer through a cable and analyzed to determine which

levels may be out of balance.

Based on the energy analysis, Harvey uses computer software to determine

which factors - such as mold or chemicals in the environment - may be

causing the energy imbalances, and which herbs or homeopathic treatments may

provide benefits to her client.

Harvey also makes nutritional recommendations to her clients and advises

them on practices of natural living.

" She told me I couldn't eat the foods I like to eat, " Glanzer said. " I was

sick enough that I was willing to listen. "

Harvey has said that she used the Computron to recommend various herbs and

homeopathic compounds to balance Dietrich's immune system.

" I don't refer to myself as a doctor, " she said. " I call them remedies. I do

not call them medicine. "

Harvey returned to the stand Thursday to be questioned by her defense

attorney, Ann Richtman of Superior, Wis. Harvey said she treats people from

at least seven states and the entire surrounding area in South Dakota. " The

farthest someone has come is a lady who came in from land, " she said.

Richtman also called Grayson, Dorothy Dietrich's son, who said his

entire family watched his father, Grayson, die from cancer about

five years ago, even after going through a traditional cancer treatment.

" To watch somebody go through that - it was real tough, " he said.

The experience of watching his father die had a profound effect on Grayson's

family - especially his mother. " She had decided at that time that she was

never going to put herself or her family through that type of thing, " he

said.

Dorothy Dietrich was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1999. Even though

physicians recommended that Dietrich have her breast lump surgically

removed, Dietrich pursued alternative cancer treatments in Texas and Mexico

and consulted with Harvey.

Dietrich remarried in 1997 to a Brookings man, Dietrich. Her children,

Grayson said, were at odds with Dietrich over the best course of

treatment for their mother's cancer.

" () had just seen other people go through what my mother had and their

outcome was good, " Grayson said. " He was just looking at different angles -

he had a little different outlook than I did. "

During Monday's proceedings, prosecutors in the case presented an audio tape

of one of Harvey's sessions with Dietrich made in August 1999. Grayson said

he made the tape to help his mother remember what Harvey recommended.

" My mother was a very intelligent lady, but it was just a lot of information

and she just wanted to make sure she understood, " he said. " That was the

only reason why I tape recorded the conversation. "

An employee from the natural food section of Coborn's Superstore testified

about the methods she uses to assist customers looking for herbal and

homeopathic remedies.

" (My job is) just to provide really good customer service like I'm supposed

to, " said Lori Permann, Coborn's natural foods manager. " (And) assisting

customers, helping them locate products if they ask a question. "

Prosecutors asked Permann whether she uses a Computron or has an exam room,

which are both items used by Harvey. " No, " Permann said.

A Sioux Falls woman testified that Harvey helped her daughter find relief

from complications from her autoimmune disease. Darla Kempf, who is a

registered nurse, said that traditional medicine has done a wonderful job

treating her daughter's symptoms, but Harvey provided underlying support and

help for her daughter's entire body.

" Colleen gave her things and suggested things that would support her whole

system, her whole underlying system, " Kempf said. " That's something we were

neglecting. (My daughter) probably developed this disease because something

was out of balance in her system to begin with. "

Kempf also testified about her impressions of Harvey's Computron after

receiving treatment from Harvey herself.

" I was curious, you know, but the more she worked with it the more it all

seemed to tie in with how my body really was, " she said. " It showed

imbalances in some places that Colleen wouldn't have known because we hadn't

discussed all of them. "

Glanzer's testimony was similar. " (Harvey) read my history like a book, " he

said.

Question from prosecutors on cross examination of Harvey's clients spoke to

the terminology in state law that defines the practice of medicine -

particularly the portion of the law that includes recommending or

prescribing drugs, medicine or other agents for cure or relief of ailments

or diseases.

Kathleen DeYoung, of Mina, said Harvey's treatment helped improve her

elevated liver counts that medical doctors thought may have indicated a

recurrence of Hodgkin's disease.

Pierre attorney Neil Fulton, who is assisting in Harvey's prosecution, asked

DeYoung if Harvey used the Computron and sold her products. " Yes, " DeYoung

said. " The liver counts returned to normal ranges. "

©The Daily Republic 2002