Unlicensed 'Doctor' in Vegas Says He's Self-Taught Sovereign

[jpak]

Source: ABC News

An ex-felon accused of practicing medicine without a license in Las Vegas described himself as a former porn actor and producer who follows an anti-authority sovereign citizen philosophy and learned to perform surgery from online videos, authorities said Thursday.

Rick Van Thiel, 52, posted an Internet video showing himself performing cyst-removal surgery on a Las Vegas woman who was accused in 2013 of plotting with another anti-government believer to kill Las Vegas police, according to an arrest report.

The woman, Devon Campbell Newman, pleaded guilty to a reduced misdemeanor conspiracy charge in that case and received probation. Police say Newman, now 69, told them this year that Van Thiel treated her for cancer.

Van Thiel, who police say went by "Dr. Rick," was arrested Oct. 1 and remained jailed Thursday without bail pending an Oct. 20 preliminary hearing on multiple felony charges including practicing medicine without a license, drug and weapon possession.

<more>

Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/unlicensed-doctor-vegas-taught-sovereign-34351212

[valerief]

1. Damn regulations are ruining the free market!

[jpak]

2. yeah - like regs against felons possessing guns

[valerief]

4. How's a felon supposed to become a "good guy with a gun" if he can't get the gun?

[shenmue]

3. He'll learn how to make license plates in jail

[ret5hd]

5. Hi everybody! I'm Dr. Rick...I mean Nick!

[tomm2thumbs]

6. lolz

love it

[awoke_in_2003]

15. He is an ex porn actor

you think he would have a respectable name like Dr. Dick

[jtuck004]

7. "I'll sew that back up, let this video finish downloading so I can see how. Comcast you know. " n/t

[Fuddnik]

8. Every Tea-bagger should have a doctor just like him.

The problem will take care of itself.

[Turbineguy]

9. It's the republican health care plan

you really don't need actually qualified surgeons since you're going to die anyway.

[vlakitti]

10. I like stories like this.

I think there's a point to them, but I never know what it is.

[Wellstone ruled]

11. Must be the Bundy Family

Physician. Remember the Legal advice Bundy received,well,that Guy said he is a Lawyer because he read the Constitution and he did not need no Certificate form no Lawyer School cause he's a Sovereign Citizen. Only here in Nevada.

[bananas]

12. A porn star performing unlicensed surgery - ew gross!

Reminds me of the guy who claimed to be a self-taught nuclear engineer narcissist.
Fucking crackpots.

[riversedge]

13. I really wonder about the people who let him treat their problems....

....... Police say Van Thiel advertised that he could terminate pregnancies in the first 49 days, and that he was a sex-machine inventor who has cured most types of sexually transmitted diseases.

A Sept. 30 search of a trailer he used found written records suggesting he medically treated at least 23 people, had written agreements to treat 83 others, and administered injections of the blood thinner Heparin to two people.

Paperwork suggested he performed uterine procedures, dentistry including at least one tooth extraction, and treatments for cancer, HIV and sexually transmitted diseases, police said.

A bomb squad was summoned and neighbors on East Monroe Avenue were evacuated during the search. Police later didn't say why.

[Historic NY]

14. I'm thinking that in dealing sovereigns we should deport them to a country like Somalia ...

where they will be free to practice the government of their choosing ASAP.