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News Release — December 3, 2002
MEDICAL BOARD OF CALIFORNIA
December 3, 2002
Medical Board of California Investigation Leads to Surrender
of Grass Valley Resident Charged With
Felony Unlicensed Cancer Treatment
SACRAMENTO—Following an investigation by the Medical Board of California in cooperation with the Nevada County Sheriff's Office into allegations of the unlicensed practice of medicine and related charges, Ralph Johnson, 62, of Grass Valley was charged with grand theft; unlicensed cancer treatment; unlawful sale of unapproved drug or device; and cancer cure or substance fraud. This morning, Johnson surrendered to Nevada County officials and was taken into custody. Following a morning court appearance, he was released on his own recognizance.
- Grand theft: Johnson is charged with willfully and unlawfully taking money and personal property exceeding $400 from a local breast cancer patient whom he had allegedly contacted and told he could cure.
- Unlicensed cancer treatment: He is charged with undertaking to treat and alleviate cancer by the use of drugs ("herbal medicines") on this patient, without holding a physician's license.
- Unlawful sale of unapproved drug or device: He is charged with willfully and unlawfully selling the patient an unapproved device to be used in the cure of cancer, specifically, a small black box later identified by a Department of Health Services' biomedical engineer as a "harmonic pulser," which is not legal for sale in California. It has not been shown to be safe or effective for use in the treatment of any disease.
- Cancer cure or substance fraud: He is charged with willfully and unlawfully and with the intent to defraud, falsely representing and providing for compensation a device and treatment as effective to diagnose and cure cancer. In fact, it is alleged he told the patient she did not have cancer, and caused her to delay further diagnosis and treatment, which eliminated several medical options for her.
Johnson is scheduled for a felony conference on December 19 at the Nevada County Courthouse.
The Medical Board urges Californians to seek diagnosis and treatment for any ailment only from licensed practitioners. To confirm that a person is licensed as a physician in this state, please contact the Board at (916) 263-2382, or visit the Board's Web site at www.medbd.ca.gov. To report unlicensed activity, call the Board's complaint line at (800) 633-2322.
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