Fri, 03 May 2024 08:34:04 GMT (1714725244034)
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FULL INTERVIEW: Fake doctor, Rick Van Thiel, says he learned surgical procedures on YouTube
Rick Van Thiel Interview Pt. 3
A Las Vegas man now behind bars for running an illegal medical facility out of a trailer. Rick Van Thiel says he does it because he loves people.
"They're looking for someone who does things naturally and does no harm like I do," Van Thiel said. "I love humanity. I care about people I don't want to see people suffer. If I can ease their suffering I'll ease their suffering."
Van Thiel says he's been studying medicine now for nearly 30 years but doesn't have an actual degree. In a video, the FBI says Van Thiel posted to YouTube, Van Thiel is seen getting ready to remove a cyst from someone's back.
"So Rick are you a surgeon? No, but I played one once in a movie," Van Thiel said in the video. "Where did you learn to remove a sac? On YouTube of course."
When News 3 asked Van Thiel about learning medicine on YouTube, he said he's learned from several books and videos but maintains that YouTube was his primary source for that procedure on video.
"You don't watch one, you watch like 20 or 25 like I do," Van Thiel said. "Pretty close to anything you want to learn you can learn it off YouTube for free."
The FBI says websites Van Thiel operated claim cures for most STDs and cancer at unbeatable prices.
"How can you say you can cure these diseases?" News 3 reporter Sergio Avila asked.
"I just do. What I find it hard to believe is people believe they're not curable," Van Thiel responded.
"Tell me how you cure cancer," Avila asked.
"Well, in one interview I don't think I can teach you everything about curing cancer but their's hundreds of cures for cancer out there," Van Thiel said.
Van Thiel says he uses ozone therapy as one way to cure cancer. A doctor News 3 spoke to says there's not enough evidence to say this type of alternative medicine does anything to benefit patients.
Van Thiel does not deny these medical procedures, instead he says they happened between two consenting adults.
"I work by private contract. This is not a public deal, this is not a deal between me you and the government this is just a deal between you and me. The courts actually have no jurisdiction over that," Van Thiel said.
He now faces nearly 30 felony counts that say the courts do have jurisdiction over what the FBI calls an illegal medical facility. He's also accused of performing abortions inside the same trailer. It's something Van Thiel didn't want to talk about.
"Well, that's something I've very, very recently, that's something I've very recently decided to do but I don't know if I want that in an interview," Van Thiel said.
He went on to say that before 49 days an embryo is not a person.
"Before 49 days there's no penal gland, so there's nobody there. It's just like removing a cyst," Van Thiel said.
Van Thiel also told News 3 he is representing himself in this case because he says no one knows his case better than he does. Although he says he may not live very long in custody because he often uses his equipment to treat his own diseases and without it his health may fail.
Rick Van Thiel is expected to be in court later this month.
Additional Information about Rick Van Thiel:
Rick Van Thiel's political ideology is now playing out hand-in-hand with his medical crimes.
He is a Sovereign, a person who does not believe in laws or the authority of the federal government and federal agents. It is a belief system that thrust Van Thiel into the center of two of the region's most notorious events. Rick Van Theil spent Easter on the Bundy Ranch, supporting rancher Cliven Bundy's fight over federal land with the Bureau of Land Management.
His name also appears in police reports for an alleged crime to kill a police officer. That is according to a lengthy, rambling YouTube video denouncing his role in the scheme. In 2013 David Brutsche and Devon Newman were arrested for plotting to arrest and execute a police officer. Both were involved in a group of Sovereigns and Brutsche allegedly told the undercover officers "Rick is a great resource for Sovereigns." Brutsche was sentenced to probation after the two most serious charges in the case were dropped.
Newman was also a patient of Van Theil.
On his website, Van Theil offered "Sovereign Babies" delivering children in his trailer without a birth certificate. Telling parents that when the child is 18 they would have the choice to be a "free being or to become a slave"
"They're looking for someone who does things naturally and does no harm like I do," Van Thiel said. "I love humanity. I care about people I don't want to see people suffer. If I can ease their suffering I'll ease their suffering."
Van Thiel says he's been studying medicine now for nearly 30 years but doesn't have an actual degree. In a video, the FBI says Van Thiel posted to YouTube, Van Thiel is seen getting ready to remove a cyst from someone's back.
"So Rick are you a surgeon? No, but I played one once in a movie," Van Thiel said in the video. "Where did you learn to remove a sac? On YouTube of course."
When News 3 asked Van Thiel about learning medicine on YouTube, he said he's learned from several books and videos but maintains that YouTube was his primary source for that procedure on video.
"You don't watch one, you watch like 20 or 25 like I do," Van Thiel said. "Pretty close to anything you want to learn you can learn it off YouTube for free."
The FBI says websites Van Thiel operated claim cures for most STDs and cancer at unbeatable prices.
"How can you say you can cure these diseases?" News 3 reporter Sergio Avila asked.
"I just do. What I find it hard to believe is people believe they're not curable," Van Thiel responded.
"Tell me how you cure cancer," Avila asked.
"Well, in one interview I don't think I can teach you everything about curing cancer but their's hundreds of cures for cancer out there," Van Thiel said.
Van Thiel says he uses ozone therapy as one way to cure cancer. A doctor News 3 spoke to says there's not enough evidence to say this type of alternative medicine does anything to benefit patients.
Van Thiel does not deny these medical procedures, instead he says they happened between two consenting adults.
"I work by private contract. This is not a public deal, this is not a deal between me you and the government this is just a deal between you and me. The courts actually have no jurisdiction over that," Van Thiel said.
He now faces nearly 30 felony counts that say the courts do have jurisdiction over what the FBI calls an illegal medical facility. He's also accused of performing abortions inside the same trailer. It's something Van Thiel didn't want to talk about.
"Well, that's something I've very, very recently, that's something I've very recently decided to do but I don't know if I want that in an interview," Van Thiel said.
He went on to say that before 49 days an embryo is not a person.
"Before 49 days there's no penal gland, so there's nobody there. It's just like removing a cyst," Van Thiel said.
Van Thiel also told News 3 he is representing himself in this case because he says no one knows his case better than he does. Although he says he may not live very long in custody because he often uses his equipment to treat his own diseases and without it his health may fail.
Rick Van Thiel is expected to be in court later this month.
Additional Information about Rick Van Thiel:
Rick Van Thiel's political ideology is now playing out hand-in-hand with his medical crimes.
He is a Sovereign, a person who does not believe in laws or the authority of the federal government and federal agents. It is a belief system that thrust Van Thiel into the center of two of the region's most notorious events. Rick Van Theil spent Easter on the Bundy Ranch, supporting rancher Cliven Bundy's fight over federal land with the Bureau of Land Management.
His name also appears in police reports for an alleged crime to kill a police officer. That is according to a lengthy, rambling YouTube video denouncing his role in the scheme. In 2013 David Brutsche and Devon Newman were arrested for plotting to arrest and execute a police officer. Both were involved in a group of Sovereigns and Brutsche allegedly told the undercover officers "Rick is a great resource for Sovereigns." Brutsche was sentenced to probation after the two most serious charges in the case were dropped.
Newman was also a patient of Van Theil.
On his website, Van Theil offered "Sovereign Babies" delivering children in his trailer without a birth certificate. Telling parents that when the child is 18 they would have the choice to be a "free being or to become a slave"
LAS VEGAS (KSNV News3LV) —
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