Michael Andrew Arata is a doctor in Newport Beach, California doctor. He is associated with multiple known pseudoscience groups, including International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society (ILADS), American Board of Integrative Medicine (ABIM), and the Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM).
“Integrative” and “functional” are terms frequently used to market quackery.
Michael Arata has been the subject of an investigation by journalists at Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and MedPage Today. Relevant links are below.
Medical Board Accusation
In 2018, the Medical Board of California accused Michael Arata of:
- Gross negligence,
- Repeated negligent acts,
- Dishonesty or corruption,
- Failure to maintain adequate or accurate medical records,and
- General unprofessional conduct.
The charges relate to Arata’s treatment of a 71 year old woman who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. These charges are pending and have not been proven.
FDA Actions
See below for documents related to relevant FDA actions.
Resources
Medical Board of California: Accusation against Michael Andrew Arata, June 28, 2018
MedPage Today: Calif. Medical Board Acts on Doc With Risky MS ‘Cure’, July 31, 2018
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and MedPage Today: From hope to medical nightmare, March 28, 2018
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and MedPage Today: Medical board seeks to discipline doctor who did risky, unproven treatment on MS patients, July 31, 2018
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and MedPage Today: FDA warning letters to doctors flag serious problems, but state medical boards do nothing, August 16, 2018
FDA concern over experimental procedures that use balloon angioplasty devices to treat autonomic dysfunction: FDA safety communication specifically calling out Michael Arata
FDA letters to Michael Arata:
- Notice of Opportunity for Hearing (NOOH), June 21, 2017
- Notice of initiation of disqualification proceedings and Opportunity to explain, September 13, 2016
- Warning Letter, September 5, 2012