State ex rel. State Board of Healing Arts v. Beyrle

7 P.3d 1194, 269 Kan. 616, 2000 Kan. LEXIS 606
Supreme Court of Kansas·Decided July 14, 2000·No. No. 82,354·Published·Cited by 1 cases

Opinion

The opinion of the court was delivered by

Larson, J.:

Stanley W. Beyrle, a naturopath, appeals the trial court’s ruling in favor of the State of Kansas ex rel. Board of Healing Arts (Board) that K.S.A. 65-2872a, relating to practice by naturo-paths, unconstitutionally delegates legislative authority in violation of Article 2, § 1 of the Kansas Constitution and that Beyrle’s activities violated the Kansas Healing Arts Act, K.S.A. 65-2801 et seq. (Act).

After setting forth the history of these proceedings, we will first consider the constitutional issue and then decide whether the in-junctive and quo warranto relief granted by the trial court was properly entered.

History of proceedings

The Board filed this action in April 1996 against Beyrle and his registered nurse assistant, Janet Royston, asserting both parties had violated provisions of the Act through various activities associated with Beyrle’s naturopathic practice. The petition alleged that the statute which Beyrle claimed justified his activities, the naturopa-thy statute, K.S.A. 65-2872a, was unconstitutional. The petition sought declaratory, injunctive, and quo warranto relief as allowed under K.S.A. 65-2857.

A consent judgment was entered against Royston upon her stipulation that she had violated the Act and would permanently cease any activities which violated the Act. She is no longer a party to this action. Beyrle answered, asserting his authority to practice na-turopathy under K.S.A. 65-2872a and denying several of the Board’s factual allegations. He also counterclaimed, asserting various tort claims against the Board.

The Board moved for partial judgment on the issue of whether K.S.A. 65-2872a violates Article 2, § 1 of the Kansas Constitution by unlawfully delegating legislative authority to a private person or entity. The trial court, relying on Gumbhir v. Kansas State Board [618]*618of Pharmacy, 228 Kan. 579, 618 P.2d 837 (1980), upheld the Board’s contention, but reserved judgment on whether Beyrle unlawfully prescribed drugs or exceeded his statutory authority and stayed the remainder of the issues so he could attempt an interlocutory appeal. By its decision, the trial court advised Beyrle that “the practice of naturopathy is no longer authorized by statute, and that all activity within the purview of the healing arts act must cease until such time as the legislature appropriately grants the authority.”

Beyrle attempted an interlocutory appeal, but we determined in State ex rel. Board of Healing Arts v. Beyrle, 262 Kan. 507, 941 P.2d 371 (1997), that the trial court’s judgment was not a final appealable order and dismissed his appeal.

Once back in the trial court, the Board, with the trial court’s permission and without objection by Beyrle, amended its petition to include additional factual contentions relevant to whether Beyrle’s activities violated the Act. The Board moved for summary judgment on its remaining claims, seeking a declaration that Beyrle unlawfully practiced the healing arts, requesting an order enjoining him from the further unlawful practice of the healing arts, and asking for the dismissal of his counterclaims. Beyrle opposed the State’s motion. The parties agreed the court could decide the issues based on the pleadings, supporting evidence in the record, and prior arguments.

Beyrle does not challenge the findings of fact entered by the trial court and they are therefore conclusive for purposes of this appeal. See Kim v. Kansas Dept. of Revenue, 22 Kan. App. 2d 319, 325, 916 P.2d 47, rev. denied 260 Kan. 994 (1996); Justice v. Board of Wyandotte County Comm'rs, 17 Kan. App. 2d 102, 109, 835 P.2d 692, rev. denied 251 Kan. 938 (1992).

Factual background

Beyrle owns and operates as a sole proprietorship the Kansas Clinic of Traditional Medicine, located in Wichita, Kansas. Beyrle is not licensed to practice any branch of the healing arts in Kansas, but he practices naturopathy. This practice includes the use of homeopathic, botanical, and other remedies.

[619]*619Beyrle graduated from the National College of Naturopathic Medicine in Portland, Oregon. The school’s curriculum included instruction on many modalities of treatment, including diagnosis, spinal manipulation, and intravenous therapy, and the school confers a diploma stating the degree of “Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine.”

Beyrle publicly uses the titles “naturopathic medical doctor” and “naturopathic physician,” and he uses the letters “N.M.D” in conjunction with his name. His business cards identify him as a na-turopathic physician. He was listed in the business pages of a 1997 Wichita telephone book using the designation “phy” after his name.

Between January 1995 and April 1997, Beyrle employed Royston as his nurse. At all times relevant to this action, she was his duly authorized agent and employee.

The complaint as to Beyrle’s actions relates to patient E.S., who had been diagnosed with a brain tumor by a licensed physician. Beyrle treated E.S. with various homeopathic and natural remedies, including shark cartilage enemas designed to reduce pain by diminishing blood flow to the tumor, and “reduced glutathione,” which Beyrle described as a cancer drug of choice in Europe. During one office visit, Beyrle manipulated E.S.’s first and second cervical vertebrae by mechanically moving her spine in an attempt to realign it.

In January 1996, Beyrle observed that E.S. was dehydrated and he instructed Royston to refer E.S. to hospice. Royston contacted Central Homecare and Hospice in Newton and gave the admissions nurse referral information. Royston informed hospice nurse Chris Rose, R.N., that she had administered IV vitamins in the office that day to E.S. Beyrle called Royston from out of state and directed that she inform the hospice to give E.S. specified vitamins, minerals, and trace elements added to a 5% dextrose and water solution (D5W), to be administered by IV. If the items could not be added to the D5W, then the D5W was to be administered by IV without the additives. Royston called in the order to the hospice and identified herself as the doctor’s nurse. Rose explained that Royston would have to call the order in herself, so she called a [620]*620pharmacy to transmit Beyrie’s instructions. She spoke with Doug Chne, R.Ph., and described the additives ordered by Beyrle. Ultimately, the pharmacy dispensed four 250 cc IV bags of D5W without the additives, delivering it to the hospice for IV administration. D5W for IV administration is a prescription-only product.

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State ex rel. State Board of Healing Arts v. Beyrle, 7 P.3d 1194, 269 Kan. 616, 2000 Kan. LEXIS 606 (kan 2000).

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STATE EX REL. STATE BOARD OF HEALING ARTS v. Beyrle
7 P.3d 1194 (Supreme Court of Kansas, 2000)