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American Morning
Interview With Bechler Family Attorney
Aired February 27, 2003 - 09:18 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: A medical examiner in Florida reiterated yesterday that the weight loss supplement ephedra probably contributed to the death of Baltimore Orioles pitcher Steve Bechler. Bechler collapsed from heat stroke during spring training back on February 16 and died the next day. Toxicology results aren't expected for another two weeks. Bechler's widow plans to sue Cytodyne Technologies, which makes the dietary supplement her husband was taking.
Joining us now from White Plains, New York is David Meiselman, the attorney for Kiley Bechler. Cytodyne Technologies decided to join us this morning -- or declined to join us this morning, but did issue a statement. I would like to read it right now.
In part, it said, "Xenadrine RFA-1 has been used safely and effectively by more than 20 million Americans. There is a mountain of solid medical evidence, medically solid, published clinical studies that show that show when taken by healthy, overweight people, Xenadrine RFA-1 and other ephedra products are safe and effective when used as directed" -- unquote.
David Meiselman joins us now. Any reaction to that statement, sir?
DAVID MEISELMAN, ATTORNEY: Good morning, Paula.
I think the evidence is overwhelming that -- excuse me -- that ephedra is a dangerous product and must be removed from the shelves of America's stores. This is not just our position. This is the position of the NCAA, the Olympic Committee, the International Olympic Committee, NFL, Canada.
It is clear -- and in fact, I might want to take this opportunity to applaud Major League Baseball, because in the last 24 hours, ephedra-type products have been banned in the minor leagues as well.
So the evidence is clear and overwhelming, and I think we have to look to medical researchers and reports about the nature of this dangerous drug other than coming from the manufacturer. We have to forget about what the manufacturer says, and look to independent medical researchers.
ZAHN: But tell us how you are going to be able to prove that ephedra alone caused the death of Mr. Bechler. We know what the medical examiner of Broward County said, that the autopsy report showed that Steve had a history of borderline hypertension which was not treated, a liver function problem as well, and that he had little solid food in his system at the time of the autopsy. How are you going to prove that it was ephedra alone that caused his death?
MEISELMAN: Well, Steve was a healthy young man. He was healthy enough to pitch Major League Baseball. He had passed a rigorous physical examination, conducted by a medical doctor for the Baltimore Orioles, and it would seem to me that a 23-year-old Major League Baseball pitcher, who is healthy enough to play for the Baltimore Orioles, should be healthy enough to take an over-the-counter weight loss pill.
ZAHN: Let me ask you this. It is reported the medical examiner received his medical records from the Baltimore Orioles, and that records show that he saw a doctor for this liver dysfunction problem two years ago, and at the same time, he was on this stuff. Should a doctor have told him about the possible side effects of taking ephedra when you had an existing liver condition?
MEISELMAN: Well, there has been a lot of rumors about Steve's condition, and the manner in which he took the Xenadrine. I believe that is something that is best left for the trial, when the facts will come out. I do not want to try my case in the press and in the public. We are still in the investigatory stage, but I believe that when all is said and done, it will be proven, overwhelmingly, that ephedra was the cause of Steve's death.
ZAHN: The team doctor said he had no knowledge that Steve was even on this stuff. Should he have known?
MEISELMAN: Well, I don't know. I haven't spoken to the team doctor as yet. That's something we look forward to doing, and we plan on having that discussion, that will be something that we all find out in the very near future.
ZAHN: And finally, this morning, how is Steve's widow, Kiley, doing? She was eight months pregnant at the time that she heard this terrible news.
MEISELMAN: Thank you for asking, Paula. It is a difficult, as you can well imagine. It is a 23-year-old gal who has been absolutely terrific, a tower of strength. Her mother and grandmother have been very strong and supportive. She's eight months pregnant, as you mentioned, and they're living the American dream until this American nightmare came along, but we are going to try to make it right, and prevent this from happening to other families in America.
ZAHN: Well, we are going to follow the legal maneuverings along the way. Thank you, David Meiselman, for your time this morning.
MEISELMAN: Thank you, Paula.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired February 27, 2003 - 09:18 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: A medical examiner in Florida reiterated yesterday that the weight loss supplement ephedra probably contributed to the death of Baltimore Orioles pitcher Steve Bechler. Bechler collapsed from heat stroke during spring training back on February 16 and died the next day. Toxicology results aren't expected for another two weeks. Bechler's widow plans to sue Cytodyne Technologies, which makes the dietary supplement her husband was taking.
Joining us now from White Plains, New York is David Meiselman, the attorney for Kiley Bechler. Cytodyne Technologies decided to join us this morning -- or declined to join us this morning, but did issue a statement. I would like to read it right now.
In part, it said, "Xenadrine RFA-1 has been used safely and effectively by more than 20 million Americans. There is a mountain of solid medical evidence, medically solid, published clinical studies that show that show when taken by healthy, overweight people, Xenadrine RFA-1 and other ephedra products are safe and effective when used as directed" -- unquote.
David Meiselman joins us now. Any reaction to that statement, sir?
DAVID MEISELMAN, ATTORNEY: Good morning, Paula.
I think the evidence is overwhelming that -- excuse me -- that ephedra is a dangerous product and must be removed from the shelves of America's stores. This is not just our position. This is the position of the NCAA, the Olympic Committee, the International Olympic Committee, NFL, Canada.
It is clear -- and in fact, I might want to take this opportunity to applaud Major League Baseball, because in the last 24 hours, ephedra-type products have been banned in the minor leagues as well.
So the evidence is clear and overwhelming, and I think we have to look to medical researchers and reports about the nature of this dangerous drug other than coming from the manufacturer. We have to forget about what the manufacturer says, and look to independent medical researchers.
ZAHN: But tell us how you are going to be able to prove that ephedra alone caused the death of Mr. Bechler. We know what the medical examiner of Broward County said, that the autopsy report showed that Steve had a history of borderline hypertension which was not treated, a liver function problem as well, and that he had little solid food in his system at the time of the autopsy. How are you going to prove that it was ephedra alone that caused his death?
MEISELMAN: Well, Steve was a healthy young man. He was healthy enough to pitch Major League Baseball. He had passed a rigorous physical examination, conducted by a medical doctor for the Baltimore Orioles, and it would seem to me that a 23-year-old Major League Baseball pitcher, who is healthy enough to play for the Baltimore Orioles, should be healthy enough to take an over-the-counter weight loss pill.
ZAHN: Let me ask you this. It is reported the medical examiner received his medical records from the Baltimore Orioles, and that records show that he saw a doctor for this liver dysfunction problem two years ago, and at the same time, he was on this stuff. Should a doctor have told him about the possible side effects of taking ephedra when you had an existing liver condition?
MEISELMAN: Well, there has been a lot of rumors about Steve's condition, and the manner in which he took the Xenadrine. I believe that is something that is best left for the trial, when the facts will come out. I do not want to try my case in the press and in the public. We are still in the investigatory stage, but I believe that when all is said and done, it will be proven, overwhelmingly, that ephedra was the cause of Steve's death.
ZAHN: The team doctor said he had no knowledge that Steve was even on this stuff. Should he have known?
MEISELMAN: Well, I don't know. I haven't spoken to the team doctor as yet. That's something we look forward to doing, and we plan on having that discussion, that will be something that we all find out in the very near future.
ZAHN: And finally, this morning, how is Steve's widow, Kiley, doing? She was eight months pregnant at the time that she heard this terrible news.
MEISELMAN: Thank you for asking, Paula. It is a difficult, as you can well imagine. It is a 23-year-old gal who has been absolutely terrific, a tower of strength. Her mother and grandmother have been very strong and supportive. She's eight months pregnant, as you mentioned, and they're living the American dream until this American nightmare came along, but we are going to try to make it right, and prevent this from happening to other families in America.
ZAHN: Well, we are going to follow the legal maneuverings along the way. Thank you, David Meiselman, for your time this morning.
MEISELMAN: Thank you, Paula.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
