Daryn Wayne Peterson |
SANTA ANA-- A man accused of practicing medicine and treating cancer and AIDS without a license has been arrested, according to District Attorney officials.
The Orange County District Attorney's office was alerted to self-proclaimed doctor, Daryn Wayne Peterson, 37, after an article about his alternative cures for cancer appeared in the Orange County Register, OC DA's office spokesperson Farrah Emami said.
An investigator working for the District Attorney's office went undercover, pretending he was diagnosed with lymphoma, Emami said.
The investigator made an appointment to see Peterson in his Mira Loma apartment.
Peterson told the "patient" that he had treated many cancer patients and had an 88 percent success rate, according to Emami.
Peterson allegedly told the investigator that "chemotherapy would kill him faster than the cancer."
The undercover investigator was told he could "expect almost complete reversal" of his disease within a year if he takes the "all-natural" vitamins and natural supplements daily that were prescribed by Peterson, Emami said.
It was also discovered by investigators that the alleged "patients" quoted in the Register article were Peterson's relatives.
In the article, Peterson boasted that his supplements cured cancer, AIDS, peanut allergies and heart failure.
It was also discovered the article also quoted licensed medical doctors who had actually debunked Peterson's claims.
In the article, Peterson also encouraged people to cancel their health insurance policies and rely on his methods.
Peterson is charged with felony unauthorized practice of medicine, operating a health-care service plan without a license, treating cancer without a license, offering an unapproved drug for cancer treatment and a misdemeanor count of misrepresenting himself as a licensed medical practitioner, Emami said.
Peterson is being held on $20,000 bail.
The Orange County District Attorney's office was alerted to self-proclaimed doctor, Daryn Wayne Peterson, 37, after an article about his alternative cures for cancer appeared in the Orange County Register, OC DA's office spokesperson Farrah Emami said.
An investigator working for the District Attorney's office went undercover, pretending he was diagnosed with lymphoma, Emami said.
The investigator made an appointment to see Peterson in his Mira Loma apartment.
Peterson told the "patient" that he had treated many cancer patients and had an 88 percent success rate, according to Emami.
Peterson allegedly told the investigator that "chemotherapy would kill him faster than the cancer."
The undercover investigator was told he could "expect almost complete reversal" of his disease within a year if he takes the "all-natural" vitamins and natural supplements daily that were prescribed by Peterson, Emami said.
It was also discovered by investigators that the alleged "patients" quoted in the Register article were Peterson's relatives.
In the article, Peterson boasted that his supplements cured cancer, AIDS, peanut allergies and heart failure.
It was also discovered the article also quoted licensed medical doctors who had actually debunked Peterson's claims.
In the article, Peterson also encouraged people to cancel their health insurance policies and rely on his methods.
Peterson is charged with felony unauthorized practice of medicine, operating a health-care service plan without a license, treating cancer without a license, offering an unapproved drug for cancer treatment and a misdemeanor count of misrepresenting himself as a licensed medical practitioner, Emami said.
Peterson is being held on $20,000 bail.
