Doctor Looses Medical License for Teaching Former LDS Bishop
Las Vegas NV Sun 6Dec99 D2
By Ed Koch: Las Vegas Sun

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA -- A Doctor in Logandale, Nevada, who was involved in a 1998 nationwide anthrax scare, has had his medical license revoked by the Nevada State Board of Medical Examiners. In the board's meeting on Saturday, it voted 9-0 to revoke Dr. William O. Murray's license because he aided and abetted "the unauthorized practice of medicine," by former LDS bishop William Leavitt Jr.

The board found that Murray committed a total of 59 violations in allowing Leavitt to practice medical techniques, even though Leavitt is not a doctor. Leavitt was arrested in February 1998 along with Larry Wayne Harris on charges that they intended to test vials of deadly military-grade anthrax bacteria. The incident led to nationwide re-examination of how available anthrax was and what damage it could do.

Two weeks following the arrest of Leavitt and Harris, charges against them were dropped when the anthrax they had was discovered to be simply a harmless anthrax vaccine for animals. Leavitt, then 47, apologized in a news conference before the charges were dismissed, saying that his actions were simply an attempt to help people. "It's over. It's done. I want to get on with my life," said Leavitt. "It was always my desire, and has been and continues to be, to help mankind."

It is believed that Leavitt was trying to learn alternative medical treatments from Murray after the anthrax scare, according to the Board of Medical Examiners.