Business ProfileforParkinson's Clinic International, LLC

On March 4, 2019, BBB Serving North Central Texas requested that Parkinson’s Clinic International, LLC substantiate, modify, or discontinue several advertising claims on the company's website, including its use of “Clinic” in the company’s actual name.

It is BBB’s opinion that the sum of the company’s marketing materials, including the company’s name, strongly imply that the business is a licensed medical facility staffed by licensed medical doctors authorized to treat Parkinson’s disease.

Examples of statements which require substantiation, modification or discontinuation are:

***“We specialize in a safe, effective and unique approach to Parkinson’s like symptoms and Parkinson’s related conditions, including Young-Onset and Early-Onset of Parkinson’s like symptoms.”

***“Members of The Institute For Functional Medicine”

***“Welcome to the scientifically based, medically developed program that is clinically shown to eliminate symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, Parkinsonism, and Essential Tremor. This Amino Acid Therapy program offers significant hope to improve your health, life and future. You will probably regain the responsibility for your own life and take so much of the burden off of your loving support team.”

BBB staff confirmed that the business is not a member of The Institute for Functional Medicine.

BBB requested that the business provide competent and reliable scientific evidence demonstrating that its product is “safe”, “effective”, and “clinically shown to eliminate the symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease, Parkinsonism, and Essential Tremor” as advertised.

BBB also requested that the business provide any relevant licensing or certifications that would allow it to treat consumers suffering from Parkinson’s Diseases and similar neurodegenerative conditions.

During the review of the company’s advertising, BBB staff found that the business does not have a licensed physician or medical practitioner on staff, and primarily treats patients suffering from Parkinson’s and “Parkinson’s like symptoms” via skype and similar video chatting platforms.

BBB noted that the address of the “Clinic” is not a medical facility, but is a residential dwelling located in Dallas, Texas.

In addition, BBB requested that the business provide substantiation showing that reasonable consumers will understand they are not being seen by a licensed medical doctor, and that Parkinson’s Clinic International, LLC is not a medical clinic. A response was not received.

Dr. Ross Stewart, Ph.D., A.C.N., the primary staffer tasked with evaluating and treating consumers suffering from Parkinson’s disease, has been reprimanded by the Texas Medical Board for the unlicensed practice of Medicine.

BBB conducted a thorough review of the company’s website, www.parkinsonsclinicinternational.com, and other marketing materials from the time before the Medical Board’s action and after.

It is BBB’s opinion that the changes made since the Medical Board’s action are insufficient to alert reasonable consumers that Parkinson’s Clinic International is not a medical clinic and that Dr. Stewart is not authorized to treat Parkinson’s disease in the state of Texas.

To ensure compliance with the BBB Code of Business Practices, BBB requested access to the company’s online store being advertised on the company’s website to conduct a review of any claimed results which would require substantiation, modification, or discontinuation to comply with the BBB Code of Advertising. The business did not provide access to the online store.

The Foreword to the BBB Code of Advertising states, “In all instances, advertisers, agencies and media should also be sure that they are in compliance with local, state, federal and provincial laws and regulations governing advertising.”

The BBB Code of Advertising also states, “Claims relating to performance, energy savings, safety, efficacy or results for a product or service should be based on recent and competent testing or other objective data.”

As of April 11, 2023, the business has failed to respond to BBB’s request for advertising substantiation, and has not made any proactive modifications to its marketing materials.

On March 4, 2019, BBB Serving North Central Texas requested that Parkinson's Clinic International, LLC substantiate, modify, or discontinue several advertising claims on the company's website, including its use of "Clinic" in the company's actual name.

It is BBB's opinion that the sum of the company's marketing materials, including the company's name, strongly imply that the business is a licensed medical facility staffed by licensed medical doctors authorized to treat Parkinson's disease.

Examples of statements which require substantiation, modification or discontinuation are:

***"We specialize in a safe, effective and unique approach to Parkinson's like symptoms and Parkinson's related conditions, including Young-Onset and Early-Onset of Parkinson's like symptoms."
***"Members of The Institute For Functional Medicine"

***"Welcome to the scientifically based, medically developed program that is clinically shown to eliminate symptoms of Parkinson's disease, Parkinsonism, and Essential Tremor. This Amino Acid Therapy program offers significant hope to improve your health, life and future. You will probably regain the responsibility for your own life and take so much of the burden off of your loving support team."

BBB staff confirmed that the business is not a member of The Institute for Functional Medicine.

BBB requested that the business provide competent and reliable scientific evidence demonstrating that its product is "safe", "effective", and "clinically shown to eliminate the symptoms of Parkinson's Disease, Parkinsonism, and Essential Tremor" as advertised.

BBB also requested that the business provide any relevant licensing or certifications that would allow it to treat consumers suffering from Parkinson's Diseases and similar neurodegenerative conditions.

During the review of the company's advertising, BBB staff found that the business does not have a licensed physician or medical practitioner on staff, and primarily treats patients suffering from Parkinson's and "Parkinson's like symptoms" via Skype and similar video chatting platforms.

BBB noted that the address of the "Clinic" is not a medical facility, but is a residential dwelling located in Dallas, Texas.

In addition, BBB requested that the business provide substantiation showing that reasonable consumers will understand they are not being seen by a licensed medical doctor, and that Parkinson's Clinic International, LLC is not a medical clinic. A response was not received.

Dr. Ross Stewart, Ph.D., A.C.N., the primary staffer tasked with evaluating and treating consumers suffering from Parkinson's disease, has been reprimanded by the Texas Medical Board for the unlicensed practice of Medicine.

BBB conducted a thorough review of the company's website, www.parkinsonsclinicinternational.com, and other marketing materials from the time before the Medical Board's action and after.

It is BBB's opinion that the changes made since the Medical Board's action are insufficient to alert reasonable consumers that Parkinson's Clinic International is not a medical clinic and that Dr. Stewart is not authorized to treat Parkinson's disease in the state of Texas.

To ensure compliance with the BBB Code of Business Practices, BBB requested access to the company's online store being advertised on the company's website to conduct a review of any claimed results which would require substantiation, modification, or discontinuation to comply with the BBB Code of Advertising. The business did not provide access to the online store.

The Foreword to the BBB Code of Advertising states, "In all instances, advertisers, agencies and media should also be sure that they are in compliance with local, state, federal and provincial laws and regulations governing advertising."

The BBB Code of Advertising also states, "Claims relating to performance, energy savings, safety, efficacy or results for a product or service should be based on recent and competent testing or other objective data."

As of October 23, 2019, the business has failed to respond to BBB's request for advertising substantiation, and has not made any proactive modifications to its marketing materials.