William Hammesfahr
Encyclopedia
William Hammesfahr is an American
neurologist
practicing in Clearwater, Florida
, who specializes in treating stroke victims. He is best known for his involvement in the Terri Schiavo
case, during which he examined Schiavo and testified on behalf of her parents.
For stroke victims, Hammesfahr recommends aggressive treatment with drugs to open constricted blood vessel
s and improve blood flow
to the affected areas of the brain
. He also advocates using Transcranial Doppler testing (TCD) to monitor patients' progress, which involves using sound waves
to measure the speed of blood
flow through the brain. The concept of dilating blood vessels to treat strokes is not widely accepted by the medical community. Hammesfahr's research is not published in peer-reviewed journals, but in Lifelines, a medical journal hosted on his own website, Medforum.
In 2003, Florida
's Board of Medicine accused him of "performing medical treatment below the standard of care, engaging in false advertising concerning his treatment of strokes, and exploiting a patient for financial gain." The board cleared him of the first two charges, but found that he had charged a patient for treatment she did not receive. The board's decision was overturned by the Florida Court of Appeal on March 26, 2004, which cleared Dr. Hammesfahr of the remaining charge. However, his clinic in Florida is now closed.
in 1982 from Northwestern University
and completed his residency training at the Medical College of Virginia in Richmond.
in 2002 when he examined Terri Schiavo
, the woman at the center of a debate in the United States
about euthanasia
. Testifying on behalf of Schiavo's parents, Hammesfahr told a court that, contrary to majority medical opinion, which stated that Schiavo was in an irreversible persistent vegetative state
, she was in a minimally conscious state
and might recover. He testified that his treatment might improve her to the point of being able to communicate, a statement not regarded as credible by the other neurologists involved in the case.
in medicine. He testified in 2002 that U.S. Representative
Michael Bilirakis
(R-FL) had nominated him. In 1999, Bilirakis had in fact written a letter to the Nobel Committee recommending Hammesfahr for the prize, but he was not eligible to make such a nomination. Furthermore, the letter erroneously referred to the nonexistent "Nobel Peace Prize In Medicine." Despite this, on March 21, 2005, during interviews about Schiavo on Fox News and MSNBC
, Hammesfahr was billed as "nominated for the Nobel Prize" several times by hosts Sean Hannity
and Joe Scarborough
. Pat Robertson
also mistakenly introduced Hammesfahr on The 700 Club
as a "Nobel Prize winner".
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
neurologist
Neurologist
A neurologist is a physician who specializes in neurology, and is trained to investigate, or diagnose and treat neurological disorders.Neurology is the medical specialty related to the human nervous system. The nervous system encompasses the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves. A specialist...
practicing in Clearwater, Florida
Clearwater, Florida
Clearwater is a city located in Pinellas County, Florida, US, nearly due west of Tampa and northwest of St. Petersburg. In the west of Clearwater lies the Gulf of Mexico and in the east lies Tampa Bay. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 108,787. It is the county seat of...
, who specializes in treating stroke victims. He is best known for his involvement in the Terri Schiavo
Terri Schiavo
The Terri Schiavo case was a legal battle in the United States between the legal guardians and the parents of Teresa Marie "Terri" Schiavo that lasted from 1998 to 2005...
case, during which he examined Schiavo and testified on behalf of her parents.
For stroke victims, Hammesfahr recommends aggressive treatment with drugs to open constricted blood vessel
Blood vessel
The blood vessels are the part of the circulatory system that transports blood throughout the body. There are three major types of blood vessels: the arteries, which carry the blood away from the heart; the capillaries, which enable the actual exchange of water and chemicals between the blood and...
s and improve blood flow
Blood flow
Blood flow is the continuous running of blood in the cardiovascular system.The human body is made up of several processes all carrying out various functions. We have the gastrointestinal system which aids the digestion and the absorption of food...
to the affected areas of the brain
Brain
The brain is the center of the nervous system in all vertebrate and most invertebrate animals—only a few primitive invertebrates such as sponges, jellyfish, sea squirts and starfishes do not have one. It is located in the head, usually close to primary sensory apparatus such as vision, hearing,...
. He also advocates using Transcranial Doppler testing (TCD) to monitor patients' progress, which involves using sound waves
Sound
Sound is a mechanical wave that is an oscillation of pressure transmitted through a solid, liquid, or gas, composed of frequencies within the range of hearing and of a level sufficiently strong to be heard, or the sensation stimulated in organs of hearing by such vibrations.-Propagation of...
to measure the speed of blood
Blood
Blood is a specialized bodily fluid in animals that delivers necessary substances such as nutrients and oxygen to the cells and transports metabolic waste products away from those same cells....
flow through the brain. The concept of dilating blood vessels to treat strokes is not widely accepted by the medical community. Hammesfahr's research is not published in peer-reviewed journals, but in Lifelines, a medical journal hosted on his own website, Medforum.
In 2003, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
's Board of Medicine accused him of "performing medical treatment below the standard of care, engaging in false advertising concerning his treatment of strokes, and exploiting a patient for financial gain." The board cleared him of the first two charges, but found that he had charged a patient for treatment she did not receive. The board's decision was overturned by the Florida Court of Appeal on March 26, 2004, which cleared Dr. Hammesfahr of the remaining charge. However, his clinic in Florida is now closed.
Education
Hammesfahr obtained his M.D.Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine is a doctoral degree for physicians. The degree is granted by medical schools...
in 1982 from Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
and completed his residency training at the Medical College of Virginia in Richmond.
Terri Schiavo
He became the subject of public controversyControversy
Controversy is a state of prolonged public dispute or debate, usually concerning a matter of opinion. The word was coined from the Latin controversia, as a composite of controversus – "turned in an opposite direction," from contra – "against" – and vertere – to turn, or versus , hence, "to turn...
in 2002 when he examined Terri Schiavo
Terri Schiavo
The Terri Schiavo case was a legal battle in the United States between the legal guardians and the parents of Teresa Marie "Terri" Schiavo that lasted from 1998 to 2005...
, the woman at the center of a debate in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
about euthanasia
Euthanasia
Euthanasia refers to the practice of intentionally ending a life in order to relieve pain and suffering....
. Testifying on behalf of Schiavo's parents, Hammesfahr told a court that, contrary to majority medical opinion, which stated that Schiavo was in an irreversible persistent vegetative state
Persistent vegetative state
A persistent vegetative state is a disorder of consciousness in which patients with severe brain damage are in a state of partial arousal rather than true awareness. It is a diagnosis of some uncertainty in that it deals with a syndrome. After four weeks in a vegetative state , the patient is...
, she was in a minimally conscious state
Minimally conscious state
Minimally Conscious State is a disorder of consciousness distinct from Persistent vegetative state and Locked-in syndrome. Unlike persistent vegetative state, patients with MCS have partial preservation of conscious awareness. MCS is a relatively new category of disorders of consciousness. The...
and might recover. He testified that his treatment might improve her to the point of being able to communicate, a statement not regarded as credible by the other neurologists involved in the case.
Nobel Prize controversy
During the Schiavo hearings, Hammesfahr was criticized for saying he had been nominated for a Nobel PrizeNobel Prize
The Nobel Prizes are annual international awards bestowed by Scandinavian committees in recognition of cultural and scientific advances. The will of the Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, established the prizes in 1895...
in medicine. He testified in 2002 that U.S. Representative
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
Michael Bilirakis
Michael Bilirakis
Michael Bilirakis , American politician, was a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives since 1983 until 2007, representing the 9th District of Florida....
(R-FL) had nominated him. In 1999, Bilirakis had in fact written a letter to the Nobel Committee recommending Hammesfahr for the prize, but he was not eligible to make such a nomination. Furthermore, the letter erroneously referred to the nonexistent "Nobel Peace Prize In Medicine." Despite this, on March 21, 2005, during interviews about Schiavo on Fox News and MSNBC
MSNBC
MSNBC is a cable news channel based in the United States available in the US, Germany , South Africa, the Middle East and Canada...
, Hammesfahr was billed as "nominated for the Nobel Prize" several times by hosts Sean Hannity
Sean Hannity
Sean Hannity is an American radio and television host, author, and conservative political commentator. He is the host of The Sean Hannity Show, a nationally syndicated talk radio show that airs throughout the United States on Premiere Radio Networks. Hannity also hosts a cable news show, Hannity,...
and Joe Scarborough
Joe Scarborough
Charles Joseph "Joe" Scarborough is an American cable news and talk radio host, lawyer, author, and former politician. He is currently the host of Morning Joe on MSNBC, and previously hosted Scarborough Country on the same channel...
. Pat Robertson
Pat Robertson
Marion Gordon "Pat" Robertson is a media mogul, television evangelist, ex-Baptist minister and businessman who is politically aligned with the Christian Right in the United States....
also mistakenly introduced Hammesfahr on The 700 Club
The 700 Club
The 700 Club is the flagship news talk show of the Christian Broadcasting Network, airing in syndication throughout the United States and Canada. In production since 1966, it is currently hosted by Pat Robertson, Terry Meeuwsen, Kristi Watts, and Gordon P. Robertson, two of whom will host on any...
as a "Nobel Prize winner".