Attorney General Weighs In On Claims of Doctor Fraud

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By Chelsea Kopta

Summary

Months after a dad claimed he'd been scammed, more people are coming forward with stories about a local therapist. Department of Health investigators are still on the case. They even met with Action News reporters to ask about Kennewick Doctor Bob Anstine.

Story Published: Apr 7, 2009 at 6:10 PM PST

KENNEWICK -- The Playground of Dreams is a long way from the nightmare Chris Dauenhauer has gone through.

"We made it through the hard part of what Bob Anstine has done to us," Chris Dauenhauer said, a dad claiming he was scammed by Anstine.

A parenting assessment kept Dauehauer from seeing his toddler. That's why he first called Dr. Anstine. But when he didn't get the results, he complained to the Department of Health.

So did many others.

In an email to Action News, Phyllis Brownlee said a trio of complaints about Dr. Anstine went nowhere. And that's been the case for years. Despite several complaints to state and federal agencies, no action has even been taken against Anstine because his therapy sessions fall into a gray area.

Anstine says, he's simply running a church.

"You throw the word church in there and he can get away with all this stuff," Dauenhauer said.

Anstine doesn't have a business license, and he doesn't have to if it's a church. But many said he's skirting the the system, offering religious counseling for a price. Anstein calls them "donations."

"And if he's charging money, even if it's under the guise of a donation, but he's making money, he's taking compensation," Washington Attorney General Rob McKenna said.

The Consumer Protection Act is set up by the state to protect you. Problem is, that act was set up to go after businesses so the question is, would Dr. Anstine's counseling service "be considered as running a business?" McKenna asked

It's still a gray area. But McKenna also says there could also be flaws with Anstine's degrees. Action News uncovered, those came from a diploma mill.

"I would like to see him lose his business," Dauenhauer said. "And I have every intention of following through with that."

But the final result, and the happy ending Chris is waiting for, will have to wait a little longer.

Action News also spoke to the Kennewick City Attorney, Lisa Beaton, about this issue. She won't pursue this case either because of that infamous gray area. Doctor Anstine says he stands by his church, his efforts to feed the poor, and to help his community.

We've talked to him in the past but could not reach him for our story Tuesday.