Paul Murray Fleiss (September 8, 1933 – July 19, 2014) was an Americanpediatrician and author known for his unconventional medical views.[1] Fleiss was a popular and sought-after pediatrician in the Greater Los Angeles area, both among poor and middle-class patients living near his Los Feliz office and among Southern California celebrities.[2] Fleiss was a breastfeeding and anti-circumcision advocate. He recommended but did not insist upon childhood vaccinations, and stated he could be "convinced either way" as to whether HIV causes AIDS.[1] In 1995, he pleaded guilty to conspiracy and bank fraud in relation to his daughter Heidi's prostitution ring.[3]
Fleiss was the father of "Hollywood madam" Heidi Fleiss. In 1995, he pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy and bank fraud. He helped Heidi launder hundreds of thousands of dollars by lying on her loan application and falsely claiming that she was an employee of his medical practice. He was sentenced to one day in prison, three years' probation, 625 hours of community service and a $50,000 fine.[5] Following the felony convictions, the Medical Board of California placed him on probation for 1 year and publicly reprimanded him for "unprofessional conduct" and "dishonesty".[6]
Heidi Fleiss was the subject of a 1996 made-for-TV movie entitled The Good Doctor: The Paul Fleiss Story, in which Paul Fleiss (played by Michael Gross) was portrayed sympathetically, as the victim of his daughter Heidi's machinations. The New York Times noted that "the sweeping inaccuracies in 'The Good Doctor: The Paul Fleiss Story' evidently didn't hurt its ratings", and the film was subsequently retitled The Making of a Hollywood Madam, and shown on cable television.[7]
Personal lifeedit
Fleiss was married to Elissa Ash until their divorce.[8] He had four daughters, Heidi, Amy, Shana, and Kim, and two sons, Jesse and Jason, the latter of whom predeceased his father.[8]
Paul Fleiss died July 19, 2014, aged 80, in Los Angeles, from undisclosed causes.[8]
Medical views and opinionsedit
Fleiss was known for his unconventional medical views.[1] He was a proponent of the "family bed".[9] While he recommended that his patients receive vaccines, he did not insist upon it.[6] He was quoted by the Los Angeles Times as stating that he 'could be "convinced either way" on whether HIV causes AIDS'.[1] Fleiss was a breastfeeding advocate and anti-circumcision activist, or intactivist.[2][6] He was the author or co-author of three books: Sweet Dreams (2001), Your Premature Baby Comes Home with Juliette M. Alsobrooks (2006), and What Your Doctor May Not Tell You about Circumcision with Frederick M. Hodges (2003).
Pediatric practiceedit
Fleiss was described in the Los Angeles Times as "everyone's favorite baby doctor" and having been "one of Southern California's most sought-after physicians" for thirty years.[2] Sometimes described in the media as a "pediatrician to the stars",[10] he counted numerous celebrities or their children among his patients.
After receiving over 100 letters of support for Fleiss from patients and parents, the medical board reached a settlement in which Fleiss conceded a failure to maintain adequate medical records and agreed to regular review by an outside physician acting as a monitor.[6][12][13]
Referencesedit
^ abcdeOrnstein, Charles; Daniel Costello (September 24, 2005). "A Mother's Denial, a Daughter's Death". Los Angeles Times.
^ abcdHubler, Shawn (April 9, 1995). "Did Father Know Best? Paul Fleiss was everyone's favorite baby doctor and the perfect dad of six of his own. So how did he end up facing a federal rap with his daughter Heidi?". Los Angeles Times.
^"Hollywood Madam's Father Pleads Guilty". The New York Times. 1995-05-12. Retrieved 2008-09-26.
^. HighBeam Research. 2005-01-01. Archived from the original on 2015-09-24.
^. Los Angeles Times. 19 September 1995. Archived from the original on November 28, 2014.
^ abcdeHall, Carla (2007-10-09). "Hollywood madam's father is placed on probation by state". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2008-09-26.
^Hal Erickson. "The Good Doctor: The Paul Fleiss Story". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Archived from the original on February 8, 2013. Retrieved April 12, 2012.
^ abcColker, David (July 19, 2014). "Dr. Paul Fleiss Dies at 80; Father of 'Hollywood Madam' Heidi Fleiss". Los Angeles Times. from the original on July 20, 2014. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
^Frerking, Beth (1993-12-05). "Someone's In Our Bed". Chicago Tribune.
^Jacobs, Alexandra (2007-10-30). "To Snip or Not to Snip—That's Shalom's Question". New York Observer.
^David T. Thornton (2006-09-13). (PDF). Medical Board of California. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-05-30. Retrieved 2008-09-26.
^Cesar A. Aristeiguieta (September 7, 2007). (PDF). Medical Board of California. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 5, 2009. Retrieved 2008-09-26.
^Cesar A. Aristeiguieta (September 7, 2007). "Paul M. Fleiss, M.D. Before the Medical Board of California In the Matter of the Accusation Against Paul Fleiss, M.D. Stipulated Settlement and Disciplinary Order" (PDF). Medical Board of California.
paul, fleiss, paul, murray, fleiss, september, 1933, july, 2014, american, pediatrician, author, known, unconventional, medical, views, fleiss, popular, sought, after, pediatrician, greater, angeles, area, both, among, poor, middle, class, patients, living, ne. Paul Murray Fleiss September 8 1933 July 19 2014 was an American pediatrician and author known for his unconventional medical views 1 Fleiss was a popular and sought after pediatrician in the Greater Los Angeles area both among poor and middle class patients living near his Los Feliz office and among Southern California celebrities 2 Fleiss was a breastfeeding and anti circumcision advocate He recommended but did not insist upon childhood vaccinations and stated he could be convinced either way as to whether HIV causes AIDS 1 In 1995 he pleaded guilty to conspiracy and bank fraud in relation to his daughter Heidi s prostitution ring 3 Contents 1 History 2 Personal life 3 Medical views and opinions 4 Pediatric practice 5 References 6 External linksHistory editFleiss initially trained as a pharmacist and osteopath 4 He relocated from Detroit to California to take advantage of 1962 legislation allowing an osteopath to convert his degree to an MD 2 He earned his B S in pharmacy from Wayne State University his D O from the University of California Irvine and his M P H from UCLA Fleiss was the father of Hollywood madam Heidi Fleiss In 1995 he pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy and bank fraud He helped Heidi launder hundreds of thousands of dollars by lying on her loan application and falsely claiming that she was an employee of his medical practice He was sentenced to one day in prison three years probation 625 hours of community service and a 50 000 fine 5 Following the felony convictions the Medical Board of California placed him on probation for 1 year and publicly reprimanded him for unprofessional conduct and dishonesty 6 Heidi Fleiss was the subject of a 1996 made for TV movie entitled The Good Doctor The Paul Fleiss Story in which Paul Fleiss played by Michael Gross was portrayed sympathetically as the victim of his daughter Heidi s machinations The New York Times noted that the sweeping inaccuracies in The Good Doctor The Paul Fleiss Story evidently didn t hurt its ratings and the film was subsequently retitled The Making of a Hollywood Madam and shown on cable television 7 Personal life editFleiss was married to Elissa Ash until their divorce 8 He had four daughters Heidi Amy Shana and Kim and two sons Jesse and Jason the latter of whom predeceased his father 8 Paul Fleiss died July 19 2014 aged 80 in Los Angeles from undisclosed causes 8 Medical views and opinions editFleiss was known for his unconventional medical views 1 He was a proponent of the family bed 9 While he recommended that his patients receive vaccines he did not insist upon it 6 He was quoted by the Los Angeles Times as stating that he could be convinced either way on whether HIV causes AIDS 1 Fleiss was a breastfeeding advocate and anti circumcision activist or intactivist 2 6 He was the author or co author of three books Sweet Dreams 2001 Your Premature Baby Comes Home with Juliette M Alsobrooks 2006 and What Your Doctor May Not Tell You about Circumcision with Frederick M Hodges 2003 Pediatric practice editFleiss was described in the Los Angeles Times as everyone s favorite baby doctor and having been one of Southern California s most sought after physicians for thirty years 2 Sometimes described in the media as a pediatrician to the stars 10 he counted numerous celebrities or their children among his patients In 2005 Fleiss was investigated for his role in the death from untreated AIDS of Eliza Jane Scovill the daughter of AIDS denialist Christine Maggiore who was HIV positive 1 Against standard medical practice Scovill was never tested for HIV and Fleiss was investigated by the Medical Board of California for gross negligence in her care as well as in the care of a second child who was also HIV positive 6 11 After receiving over 100 letters of support for Fleiss from patients and parents the medical board reached a settlement in which Fleiss conceded a failure to maintain adequate medical records and agreed to regular review by an outside physician acting as a monitor 6 12 13 References edit a b c d e Ornstein Charles Daniel Costello September 24 2005 A Mother s Denial a Daughter s Death Los Angeles Times a b c d Hubler Shawn April 9 1995 Did Father Know Best Paul Fleiss was everyone s favorite baby doctor and the perfect dad of six of his own So how did he end up facing a federal rap with his daughter Heidi Los Angeles Times Hollywood Madam s Father Pleads Guilty The New York Times 1995 05 12 Retrieved 2008 09 26 Biodata Paul M Fleiss HighBeam Research 2005 01 01 Archived from the original on 2015 09 24 Paul Fleiss Gets Probation for Aiding Heidi Los Angeles Times 19 September 1995 Archived from the original on November 28 2014 a b c d e Hall Carla 2007 10 09 Hollywood madam s father is placed on probation by state Los Angeles Times Retrieved 2008 09 26 Hal Erickson The Good Doctor The Paul Fleiss Story Movies amp TV Dept The New York Times Archived from the original on February 8 2013 Retrieved April 12 2012 a b c Colker David July 19 2014 Dr Paul Fleiss Dies at 80 Father of Hollywood Madam Heidi Fleiss Los Angeles Times Archived from the original on July 20 2014 Retrieved July 20 2014 Frerking Beth 1993 12 05 Someone s In Our Bed Chicago Tribune Jacobs Alexandra 2007 10 30 To Snip or Not to Snip That s Shalom s Question New York Observer David T Thornton 2006 09 13 Complaint from the Medical Board of California Division of Medical Quality PDF Medical Board of California Archived from the original PDF on 2008 05 30 Retrieved 2008 09 26 Cesar A Aristeiguieta September 7 2007 Decision of the Medical Board of California PDF Medical Board of California Archived from the original PDF on March 5 2009 Retrieved 2008 09 26 Cesar A Aristeiguieta September 7 2007 Paul M Fleiss M D Before the Medical Board of California In the Matter of the Accusation Against Paul Fleiss M D Stipulated Settlement and Disciplinary Order PDF Medical Board of California External links editPaul M Fleiss at IMDb Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Paul M Fleiss amp oldid 1127379453, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
