"There's no question we need a homeopathy board and that they help their patients," said Sen. Robert Cannell, D-Yuma, an allopathic pediatrician. "But I think the board, because of their own activities, has suffered a major black eye here."

The Legislature will vote on the board's future in its 2006 session, which begins in January. The board is scheduled to "sunset" out of existence next year. If that happens, over-the-counter homeopathic remedies will still be available, but other alternative treatments sanctioned by the board will no longer be allowed. Also, homeopathic doctors who have given up other medical licenses would be barred from practice.

Traditional homeopathy is based on the belief that substances that cause certain symptoms can reverse those same symptoms if highly diluted. But Arizona law defines homeopathy to include several other more invasive alternative therapies.

Numerous supporters of the board, mostly longtime patients, attended the packed hearing Tuesday. They implored lawmakers not to restrict or take away the right of Arizonans to seek alternatives to traditional medical treatment.

"Homeopathy has saved my life and keeps me healthy," said Gladys Conroy, who suffers from hypertension and is a patient of the homeopathic board's former chairman, Dr. Bruce Shelton. "I have the greatest respect for allopathic medicine (practiced by traditional medical doctors), but there are others like me who have a tremendous sensitivity to standard pharmaceuticals."

Executive Director Chris Springer said that the board welcomes an audit and that she feels media coverage of the board has been unbalanced. The majority of the 117 physicians don't have any disciplinary actions, Springer said, adding that although the board has a small budget, it could begin paying for complete background checks.

"If you could look beyond the negative media, these are individuals who have worked hard to rehabilitate themselves," Springer said. "I'm not defending any of their actions and don't think any of the board members would, either. But the majority have had no complaints on them since they have been licensed."

Critics, including at least one homeopathic physician, have accused the board of operating "a license mill" that requires minimal training for doctors and is willing to overlook the questionable histories of applicants to add to the relatively small number, 117, of licensed homeopaths.

"This eagerness to increase the number of licenses has caused this board to become a licensing mill for troubled doctors from around the country who are in need of career rehabilitation," said Dr. Kathleen Fry, a homeopathic doctor from Scottsdale who has become a sharp critic of the board.

By approving the board for two years instead of 10, the Legislature could take further action, if needed, after auditors look into allegations raised by the board's critics.

An Arizona Republic investigation last month into the board's records found that homeopathic physicians rarely face sanctions from the board, even in instances when prescribed remedies reportedly caused harm to patients.

Fry and others who practice "classical homeopathy" question whether more invasive medical procedures such as chelation therapy and acupuncture are defined as homeopathy under state law.

Under Arizona's homeopathic license, doctors are allowed to do a wide variety of alternative treatments and can still prescribe drugs and perform minor surgery, even if they give up their medical or osteopathic licenses.

Among those licensed by the board were a California eye surgeon who spent five years in prison for Medicare fraud relating to thousands of unnecessary eye surgeries and a New Mexico doctor who illegally borrowed hundreds of thousands of dollars from his patients. That crime recently resulted in multiple felony convictions. The board also licensed two other doctors convicted of felony tax evasion.

Springer said that even if applicants have been in trouble elsewhere, they must have a medical or osteopathic license in good standing in at least one state to be licensed here as a homeopath. That was the standard even for the disciplined doctors reported on by The Republic.

But Fry said she still has concerns. She pointed to the board's 2002 licensure of Dr. Thomas Lodi of Las Vegas. According to public records, Lodi, a recovering cocaine addict, admitted to the board that he had surrendered his license in Nevada in 1996. Nevada records show that Lodi gave up his license while under investigation by a state program set up to deal with doctors with substance-abuse problems. The Arizona board still unanimously approved Lodi's license because Lodi held an active license in New York that is still current. Lodi now shares a practice in Mesa with the board's chairman, Dr. Charles Schwengel.

When Sen. Jim Waring, R-Phoenix, learned about Lodi during the meeting, he grew visibly irritated. Waring said he felt that assurances about how doctors are licensed given to him in private meetings with Springer and members of the board did not match their testimony Tuesday.

"I didn't think the board did that well today," Waring said. "I asked specific questions in my office, and I think I got different answers than I got today. I have nothing against homeopathy . . . but I want some assurances that the board is going to be changing its behaviors starting today."

Senate Health Committee Chairwoman Carolyn Allen, R-Scottsdale, wants auditors to look into potential conflicts of interest by members of the board. Allen noted that one of the board's members, Dr. Todd Rowe, runs a school for homeopaths that trains many of the license applicants that come before the board. Medical doctors or osteopaths need 90 hours of homeopathic training, which can be gained through a correspondence course, to get an Arizona license.

Critics also have questioned the Arizona Homeopathic and Integrative Medical Association, the lobbying arm of the homeopathic community, for "recruiting" troubled doctors via its Web site.

The organization had a page on its site encouraging doctors who may be the victims of "oppressive" and "dictatorial" medical boards to keep an Arizona homeopathic license "in their hip pocket."

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