Robin Falkov

{{altmed}}
'''Robin Falkov O.M.D.''' {{lived||2019}}<ref name=osom>[https://web.archive.org/web/20190310022101/https://www.theothersideofmidnight.com/20190303_robin/ The Other Side of Midnight] (archived from March 9, 2019).</ref> was an oriental/[[homeopathic]] "physician" who at one time had a private clinical practice in [[Florida]] pretending to be a primary care physician.<ref name="test">[https://web.archive.org/web/20171023154947/http://www.zoominfo.com/p/Robin-Falkov/35226236 Dr. Robin Falkov] Zoominfo (archived from October 23, 2017).</ref>


Doctor
 Falkov gave her patients oriental and homeopathic "treatments" that either did nothing (homeopathy) or were potentially dangerous ([[Traditional Chinese Medicine]]).

Falkov was also a [[right wing]]<ref name="hfr">[https://web.archive.org/web/20171103122640/http://www.healthfreedomrights.com/Donald_Trump.html Trump page at Health Freedom Rights]</ref>  [[paranoid]] nut who posted [[conspiracy theories]] on her website, "Health Freedom Rights" as well as being featured on the 
batshit insane
 totally legit and respected [[Coast to Coast AM]].<ref name="coast">[https://web.archive.org/web/20090813105723/http://www.coasttocoastam.com/guest/falkov-dr-robin/6343 Dr. Robin Falkov] Coast to Coast AM.</ref> 

==(Lack of) Medical education==
Falkov obtained her Doctorate in Oriental Medicine from Acupuncture and Massage College in Miami and a diploma from the National Board of Homeopathic Examiners.<ref name="coast"/>

Searches to look up Falkov's credentials only turn up results from alternative medicine websites and nowhere else (seriously, go ahead and try).

==A dip into woo (The skeptic meter has exploded)==
Health Freedom Rights is or was a mixture of medical [[woo]], hucksterism and conspiracy theories. An example is that Falkov believed that the [[New World Order]] is at hand.{{fact}} Water from the Gulf of Mexico (succussed) [https://web.archive.org/web/20101107054139/http://healthfreedomrights.com/GULF_OIL_REMEDY.html is or was on sale for $22.99 plus shipping], a 2-ounce bottle. This was originally offered as a cure for people suffering from ingestion of that same water, polluted by the oil spill of 2010. Though Falkov was paranoid about the government taking her herbs ([[Conspiracy theory|doesn't that sound familiar]]?) , she used the Centers for Disease Control (A government agency) as a source on radiation sickness. She also believed that [[Bill Gates]] took over the US education system.

===Vaccine exemption form===
Health Freedom Rights has or had a printable vaccination exemption form so a person [[Anti-vaccination movement|does not have to get a child vaccinated]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20091116070631/http://www.healthfreedomrights.com/Vaccine_Exemption_Form.html Sample Vaccine Exemption Form] Health Freedom Rights</ref> Falkov has stated that "measles doesn't kill." Measles '''does''' kill or it can lead to nasty conditions such as Hepatitis or Encephalitis. <ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20090909090857/http://www.cdc.gov/measles/about/complications.html Complications], .</ref>. Long story short- Get your fucking vaccines, it won't kill but infectious diseases can! 

===The Water Story===
This in a nutshell states that you should not drink tap [[water]] due to [[toxins]] nor should you take a shower due to toxins in the water and water vapor.<ref name="water">[https://web.archive.org/web/20111004064256/http://www.healthfreedomrights.com/The_Water_Story.php The Water Story] Health Freedom Rights</ref>

An excerpt from her website:

{{quotebox|
#What we have with residual drug trace amounts in water is a constant, low dose exposure/treatment for the population.
#This was first reported at least 20 years ago.
#This is exposure for more than one generation. (continuous exposure to toxins will result in mutation/change)
#We are constantly being dosed/drugged with these trace amounts of pharmaceuticals.
#Even if you drink [[bottled water]], livestock and poultry are raised with water. How many are given high quality R/O (Reverse Osmosis) or high quality, multi-stage filtration system water?
#Crops are watered. How many use high quality R/O or high quality, multi stage filtration system water?
#When you shower, your pores are open and toxins can be absorbed, as well as vapor inhalation in the lungs. The skin is the largest organ of the body.}}

===Bryomixol<ref name="test"/>===
Falkov endorsed a "medication" called Bryomixol which is billed as a life-saving cancer cure, but according to FreeThoughtBlogs.com<ref name="test"/><ref>[http://freethoughtblogs.com/pharyngula/2011/12/21/michael-ellenburg-is-a-quack/ Michael Ellenburg is a quack!], Pharyngula.</ref> it is a 
distilled water
 homeopathic treatment that does nothing other than drain your bank account. However, it is used by Naturopathic 
physicians
 practitioners as a cancer treatment; because of the lack of regulation Naturopaths can get away with scamming their desperate cancer patients who have nowhere else to turn.

===Healing with Light (when the quackery above just isn't enough)===

On Falkov's website she had a section called "Healing with Light".<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20180328025717/http://www.healthfreedomrights.com/Healing_With_Light.html Healing with Light]. Archived from healthfreedomrights.com, 2018.</ref> This treatment is what the name implies — using light to treat disease. The [[Confidence trick|mark]] buys LED panels that are hooked up in a room, and this treatment is claimed to treat pain. You could get an LED Light Therapy machine for the low low price of $849.00 with an extra $30 in shipping costs!

However, the Mayo Clinic website states that light therapy is used for mental health and physical conditions such as Seasonal Affective Disorder, sleep problems, dementia, schedule changes and jet lag.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20161017134830/http://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/light-therapy/details/why-its-done/icc-20197420 Light therapy for Seasonal Affective Disorder]. Archived from mayoclinic.org, 2016.</ref> There is no mention of light therapy for treating pain.

===GMO hysteria===
As to be expected, Falkov thought GMO's are evil. It seems people should be outraged that "GMO's are not labeled", though it is damn near impossible for people to get food that is not GMO.

{{cquote|Please support the efforts of 20 states working hard for labeling of GMO products in our food.  It is our basic right to know that must now be passed as law. This is an outrage — to try to deny that information for making informed choices.|||Robin Falkov<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20130318121949/http://www.healthfreedomrights.com/Label_GMOs.html GMO page at Health Freedom Rights]</ref>}}

==Stopped clock moment==
{{main|Stopped clock}}
Her website has or had some accurate information in the section titled "[[Ebola]]". Falkov talks about isolation protocol and hand washing to prevent Ebola infection; as well as the use of hazmat protocol, rubber gloves and barrier medical care. Then again, any health organization and or doctor can tell you that. Nothing special.

==Illness and death==
In March 2013 Falkov was diagnosed with colon cancer.<ref name=watcher>[http://watchermeet-up.forumotion.com/t1055-robin-falkov-has-cancer Robin Falkov has cancer] (7 April 2013<) ''Watcher Forum''.</ref> She declined expert medical advice and proposed to manage the condition with homeopathy and something called a "Physiospect device". According to Watcher Forum, the device "transfers the frequencies of a healthy organ to the client, thereby stimulating the body's immune system to heal."<ref name=watcher/> It's anybody's guess what is meant by "[[New_Age#Threads of the New Age|frequencies]]."

The cancer followed the normal progression of untreated colon cancer,<ref>The five-year survival rate in USA is 64.5% — see [https://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/colorect.html NCI stats page]</ref> and Falkov died in hospital in Albuquerque on 3 March 2019.<ref name=osom/>

==See also==
*[[Health freedom]]

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20040507021622/http://healthfreedomrights.com/ Official site] (Archived, 2004)

==References==
{{reflist|2|80%}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Falkov, Robin}}
[[Category:Pseudoscience promoters]]
[[Category:Alternative medicine promoters]]
[[Category:Conspiracy theorists]] 
[[Category:Florida]]
[[Category:Homeopathy]]

Categories: Pseudoscience promoters, Alternative medicine promoters, Conspiracy theorists, Florida, Homeopathy