Hydrogen Peroxide Therapy Linked to Patient Death

Most people are familiar with the foaming action that occurs when hydrogen peroxide it put on an open cut or sore. That foaming action is why proponents of “oxidative” or “hyperoxygenation” therapy (the common names for IV hydrogen peroxide infusions) think it works. Such practitioners believe that an infusion of hydrogen peroxide delivers an “oxidative burst” that can ease or cure the oxygen deficiency that they believe is the cause of diseases like Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis (MS), many cancers, and AIDS.

While thousands have received this non-traditional treatment, recent developments are showing that hydrogen peroxide infusions are not without risk. In fact, one physician in South Carolina faces murder charges because one of his MS patients died following a hydrogen peroxide infusion — an action that threatens the future of this treatment, which the International Oxidative Medicine Association estimates is given more than 100,000 times a year by more than 200 participating physicians.

Coroner Gary Watts attributed the “murdered” patient’s death to massive internal bleeding directly caused by the hydrogen peroxide infusion he says created bubbles in her bloodstream that led to multiple organ failure and cardiac arrest. A lawsuit brought by the patient’s family against the physician states that the doctor ignored that the patient was exhibiting clear signs of “acute hemolytic crisis,” failed to order a blood work-up for the patient, or to refer her to another physician. The physician, who acknowledges that hydrogen peroxide infusions can destroy red blood cells after repeated treatments, denies the allegations set forth in the lawsuit.

Holistic practitioners who support such treatment claim that these actions (the murder charge and lawsuit) are a part of a conspiracy aimed at alternative treatments because the patient was taking at least two FDA-approved drugs that could have attributed to her death. Richland County, S.C., forensic pathologist Clay Nichols has been quoted as saying that he can’t help but wonder how many deaths from hydrogen peroxide infusions have instead been attributed to the natural progression of terminal illness.

Sources:

Deaths after ‘oxidation’ cast shadow over alternative medicine

Peroxide therapy leads to a patient’s death in South Carolina

Hydrogen peroxide controversy bubbles
Infusions blamed in deaths, but backers see conspiracy against alternative treatments

Deaths pall ‘oxidative’ treatment
An alternative-medicine use of hydrogen peroxide comes under investigation

Additional information:

Hydrogen peroxide has long history of medicinal use

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2. Coping Skills: Special Diets
3. Slow Going T-Shirt and Gift Idea Designs
4. Redefining Slow: A Chronic Illness Realities Comic Strip
5. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Resources

One Response to “Hydrogen Peroxide Therapy Linked to Patient Death”

1. You want “what” given IV? | Infusion Nurse Blog Says:
   December 6th, 2010 at 3:19 pm

   [...] of  course, there’s the bad news – Hydrogen Peroxide Therapy Linked to Patient Death and the resulting effect on those involved, Compounding Pharmacists Sued for Death  from [...]

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