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Aug. 12, 2007
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Charges dropped in case against Reno doctor

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

RENO -- The federal government has agreed to drop charges against a Reno doctor accused of distributing an unapproved human growth hormone, according to a court order.

The stipulated agreement signed Thursday by U.S. District Judge Howard McKibben said the U.S. Attorney's Office will dismiss the two counts against Dr. James Forsythe once a civil lawsuit is filed in the case.

The U.S. Attorney's Office on Friday called the part of the agreement that would allow for dismissal of the criminal charges inaccurate, despite Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Sullivan's signature on the document. It also was signed by Forsythe and his lawyer, Kevin Mirch.

"The United States attorney has not agreed to dismiss criminal charges against Dr. Forsythe, nor has any motion to dismiss the indictment been filed by the United States Attorney's Office," Steven Myhre, acting Nevada U.S. attorney, told the Reno Gazette-Journal.

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    • Steve Wark, Forsythe's son-in-law, said the signed agreement clears Forsythe of any wrongdoing.

    "It was unfortunate that this investigation was ever initiated," Forsythe said. "Everyone now understands that questioning the use of human growth hormone was terribly misguided, and I am grateful to be vindicated."

    Forsythe, 68, was indicted in September after an undercover investigator with the FDA asked the doctor if he could feel young again.

    Forsythe gave the investigator a vial of a human growth hormone called Bio-Tropin, a drug that has not been approved for sale or use in the U.S., according to the search warrant affidavit.

    He pleaded not guilty and his trial was set for Thursday.

    The judge's order on Thursday continues the trial until Oct. 2, but said the government will dismiss the charges after a related civil suit is filed.

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    deborah wrote on August 12, 2007 06:44 AM: It seems like the FDA has nothing better to do than entrap Physicians who are trying to meet the medical demands of the Patient. I am glad that the MD decided to go to trial since HGH for the elderly and for those who feel like their body's are aging and would like to try to right the situation. Most common folk do not even know that Drugs like Saizan and Bio-Tropin are medications that are exactly like the chemicals made by our body when we were young. Its like Insulin for a Diabetic. Exactly the same chemical and it works unbelievably well. Your decrease in Hormone is 20% less every 5 years after the age of 30. Why not "feel" like you are 25 at the age of 50. There are no known side effects but the government says only Dwarfs can use it. Its time that we the people, decide what we want to put into our bodies. Is the government afraid that we may live longer and have a better quality of life. Its a never ending struggle with the FDA and DEA. No do not give it to body builders just old folks who want to feel and look young.