Schmidt hits Wulsin for 'malariotherapy' ties in fundraising letter

U.S. Rep. Jean Schmidt (R-Loveland) is sending a fundraising letter to supporters that brings up repeat Democratic opponent Dr. Victoria Wulsin's one-time connection to the Heimlich Institute in Cincinnati, which has seen numerous ethical inquiries in regards to "malariotherapy" programs in China and Africa.

The matter was an issue of contention during the 2006 cycle when Schmidt and Wulsin squared off the first time. Schmidt beat Wulsin, who lives in Indian Hill, during that cycle by 2 points, or 2,865 votes.

The letter, which was reported on by Buckeye State Blog, has Schmidt telling supporters that Wulsin doesn't share common values such as smaller government and "respect for human life."

"Wulsin's contempt for the culture of life has even led her to participate in grotesque medical experiments. Wulsin was paid for her work in medical ‘studies' where victims of AIDS in Africa and China were, without their consent, injected with the malaria virus, all in the name of ‘scientific research.'"

The letter comes following an independent poll of 750 registered voters conducted by American Political Polling that showed Wulsin at 30 percent of the vote compared to Schmidt at 24 percent, entrepreneur David Krikorian (I- Madeira) at 13 percent and 33 percent undecided. The margin of error for the poll is +/- 3.5 percent. The poll also showed Schmidt with a 23 percent approval rating.

Through March 31, Wulsin had $212,410 cash on hand, compared to $176,670 for Schmidt.

Wulsin hoped to put the matter to rest after meeting with the State Medical Board in April to discuss her connection to the institute. Wulsin had been hired by the institute in 2004 to analyze literature studying the malaria bacteria as a treatment for HIV/AIDS.

After starting a nonprofit agency in Africa that helped women and orphans with AIDS called Soteni, Wulsin approached Dr. Henry Heimlich to get support for the agency. During their first meeting, Heimlich, the inventor of the famous chocking maneuver, offered Wulsin a job as a director at the institute. Wulsin declined the offer, but was eventually hired as a literature consultant.

After three months of analyzing the medical literature, Wulsin submitted her finding that "the preponderance of evidence indicates that neither malaria nor Immunotherapy will cure HIV/AIDS." Wulsin was let go the day after she submitted her report.

Wulsin campaign spokesman Kevin Franck released a statement last week regarding Wulsin's meeting with the medical board.

"Dr. Wulsin voluntarily met with the State Medical Board of Ohio on April 24, 2008 to discuss an anonymous ethics complaint," he said. "The Board found that there was no merit whatsoever to the complaint and declined any further action on the issue. These false allegations represented the lowest form of sleazeball politics. Fortunately for the voters of the 2nd district, the truth prevailed."

Franck pointed out to PolitickerOH.com that a complaint can be filed with the state medical board by anyone at any time. In this case, the board found no merit to the complaint itself.

"Anyone can file a complaint that is untrue, or false or fictitious with the medical board," he said. "The medical board decides if the claim has any merit whatsoever they will look into it. And the medical board decided on the face of this complaint, there was no reason for them to take any action."

Franck pointed out that the campaign had released a statement saying the board found that the anonymous complaint had no merit.

"Jean Schmidt knew that when she wrote this letter. She knew it when she mailed it to her constituents. She knew she was lying," he said.

"She isn't running the race like any incumbent I've ever seen. Most incumbents run for reelection on the strength of what they've done in office. Schmidt seems to be starting the general election campaign with nothing but false attacks on Vic."

Schmidt press secretary Barry Bennett said the letter wasn't suggesting Wulsin participated in the experiments.

"We know that she wasn't there when they got injected," he said. "Our problem with her behavior is she was called in to review all this. And she wrote a nice report to the organization about how they could take this to the next step. Never once did she call the authorities. Never once did she say that it's immoral. Never once did she say that it's unjust. She wrote her report. They wrote her a check. And she cashed it."

In the report, "Immunotherapy and Beyond," Wulsin says she was hired by the Heimlich Institute to "evaluate the viability of Malariotherapy Therapy as a focus for HI and to recommend to HI's Board of Directors the requisite next steps in developing it as a life-enhancing &/or life-prolonging intervention for persons living with HIV/AIDS."

Dr. Henry Heimlich contended that AIDS, which attacks white blood cells in the human immune system, might be countered when white blood cell production was intensely stimulated in response to malaria.

Wulsin says in the report that first "and most importantly" she reviewed over 200 articles on the scientific significance of the relationship between AIDS and malaria. Second, she "would conduct independent analysis on available data that had not been published." She said she was "unable to glean additional data" from China, but had "obtained raw data from East Africa." And third, she would "speak to as many leaders in the field of Immunotherapy as possible."

Wulsin says in the report that while reviewing the literature she noticed "a trend over time toward an increasing number of negative reports compared to positive reports." This meaning that over time, the literature reflected decreasing support for Immunotherapy.

At the end of her report, Wulsin recommended writing a strategic plan for the Heimlich Institute, renaming malariotherapy "Immunotherapy," and completing and publishing a review of immunotherapy, amongst other things.

Wulsin concludes in her report,

"Immunotherapy claims a fascinating history of effectiveness for another largely sexually transmitted epidemic. Its safety was demonstrated over much of the twentieth century, precluding the necessity of Phase I clinical trials for replicating its use for HIV. Phase II clinical trials have resulted in positive, though discrepant, results in 20 Chinese and 8 East African HIV-positive individuals. Currently the Heimlich Institute has no formal association with either of these trials, although the sponsor of the East African work maintains contact with the Heimlich Institute and shares results regularly. No written protocol is available for this innovative work in which patients acquire malaria naturally and are followed thereafter.

Further field studies of Immunotherapy, including Phase III and IV clinical trials, require the verification of the encouraging results from East Africa, elaboration on discrepancies between them and the results from the Phase II trial in China, and professional dissemination and transparent discussion with scientists, physicians, and other stakeholders."