Any info about this guy?

[chillyki]

http://www.electroregenesis.com.au/ResearchTeam/profiles.asp?ref=Keith

A friend of mine who just had his foot amputated has been in contact with him. This "doctor" claims his machine can heal wounds. In looking at his website--he's not a medical doctor, but calls himself "doctor"--his Ph.D. is from the University of Metaphysics--it's obvious to me he's a complete quack and fraud. Has anyone heard any info about him along those lines? Or heard about anything that exposes him as a fraud? The machines he sells and therapy he gives aren't HUGELY costly, but run in the thousands. Although he from Australia, he does alot of business here in the States. I'm trying to get my friend to see him for what he is, but he's not thinking clearly since the trauma of his amputation.

 

[bug_girl]

Hi Chillyki. sorry you are joining us under these circumstances.
It seems to me from a quick look that this is pretty bogus. But, unless your friend is willing to accept people at JREF as authorities (unlikely), you'll need a way for him to deal with the loss of his foot first.
How did it happen? diabetes? or a trauma? That will make a difference in how badly he wants a cure.
Does he have a good personal doctor that might be willing to step in, or to report this guy to the state authorities? if he is practicing medicine without a license, that might be actionable. In the US, the state attorney general office can also act to stop sales of medical devices.
This device claims it helps with pain--if your friend is having significant pain, maybe you can have him ask his (real) doctor for help or physical therapy?

there have been some studies that show that weak electrical fields help in healing bones, but i haven't seen anything about skin lesions like this website claims. one of the folks here is a doctor (hopkinsmedstudent) and may have more info than me. i'm just a bug doctor

 

[chillyki]

Thanks BugGirl,
I've actually been a HUGE fan of Randi's--longtime sketpic from a family of skeptics (mydad was a charter member of CSIOP)--but this my first time posting.
My friend's amputation was due to diabetes. I hooked him up with an acquaintence who's disabled and knows the ropes here in NYC--so when he's released from the hospital he'll have resources from legitimate medical practiioners--if he chooses to take advantage of them. I'm just worried about his association with this quack. I don't know if this guy is "practising medicine" or simply saying his device offers an alternative. As a result, I don't know if I have any legitimate reason to report him to the district attorney. I was hoping someone had had some experience with this guy or the guy had been exposed as a fraud someplace else.
Thanks again,
chillyki

 

[sickstan]

http://www.electroregenesis.com.au/ResearchTeam/profiles.asp?ref=Keith

A friend of mine who just had his foot amputated has been in contact with him. This "doctor" claims his machine can heal wounds. In looking at his website--he's not a medical doctor, but calls himself "doctor"--his Ph.D. is from the University of Metaphysics--it's obvious to me he's a complete quack and fraud. Has anyone heard any info about him along those lines? Or heard about anything that exposes him as a fraud? The machines he sells and therapy he gives aren't HUGELY costly, but run in the thousands. Although he from Australia, he does alot of business here in the States. I'm trying to get my friend to see him for what he is, but he's not thinking clearly since the trauma of his amputation.

Well, the "studies" on his site are not really studies, but simply observational data from a tiny number of patients graphed on an important-looking chart.

His "patent" approvals are for pain only. Interferential and TENS pain control have been well-established, but notice none are for wound healing. HOWEVER, his "ERPT waveform" graph shows a unipolar potential applied steadily over 11.5 minutes, then reversed for another 11.5 minutes. Voltage is not listed. You can be guaranteed that any significant direct current at that prolonged period of time would cause lasting electrical damage to the skin and muscle, so the current must be miniscule. The very rapid fluctuations in TENS and interferential pain control devices are designed to flip membrane potentials in nerve endings without significant current passing through tissues.

The device has enjoyed a few presentations, some in the US. Few are titled as actual evidence of any effect on wound healing.

The main harm from this device is probably to the pocketbook. If your friend pays more attention to the wound because of the ministrations of his device, perhaps healing will be encouraged. Unfortunately, the non-healing woundcare world is saturated by some pretty experimental and fantastic procedures, some of which cost a fortune.

From studies I've seen in both pigs and humans, a "wet wound" healing environment has a very good result. What does that mean? Well, it's very tedious. An adhesive, occlusive dressing that maintains a reservoir of fluid over the wound is placed. The reservoir is filled with fluid, usually saline, possibly enriched with any number of additives. The fluid is changed periodically. This has proved superior to dry and moist wound dressings.

Best of luck to your friend.

 

[chillyki]

Thanks so much for the clarification, sickstan. I pretty much figured as such. My only concern for my friend is that he avoids any real medical attention and solely relies on this shyster.