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Anthony Olson envisioned a future filled with family, career success, and hiking adventures in Montana. Despite being diagnosed with diabetes at 4, enduring anemia, and a failed kidney transplant at 29, he pursued those dreams. Moving from his parents’ home in Helena, he studied accounting at Montana Tech. In 2011, however, his aspirations were shattered when diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), a severe blood disorder, by an oncologist at St. Peter’s in Helena. “He told me that without treatment, I’d be dead before the end of the year,” said Olson, then 33.
Olson was among multiple patients given potentially harmful treatments by Dr. Thomas C. Weiner, as court records suggest. Despite suspicions from St. Peter’s administrators about Weiner’s practices, he continued treating patients until his suspension in 2020. “I trusted that he was doing what was best for me,” Olson reflected. Similar stories emerged, including that of Scot Warwick, who was treated for cancer he never had. Olson, unlike Warwick, survived to tell his tale.
After his diagnosis, Olson abandoned his college dreams, returning home to undergo Weiner’s intense chemotherapy regimen for nine years. This treatment exacerbated his anemia, requiring regular blood transfusions. Olson, like many others, thought of Weiner as a savior, bolstered by his quick access to medical care and personable approach, which increased Weiner’s popularity and patient load.
Concerns arose when Dr. Robert LaClair noticed the toll of iron overload on Olson’s body, a condition caused by excessive transfusions. Although Olson became a potential candidate for a kidney transplant, ongoing chemotherapy disqualified him from the list. By 2019, LaClair suspected a misdiagnosis and urged Olson to seek a second opinion, fearing the consequences of Weiner’s immense influence and wealth at St. Peter’s.
In 2020, St. Peter’s dismissed Weiner, citing inappropriate and unnecessary treatments. Despite lawsuits and community support for Weiner, medical reviews revealed Olson’s questionable diagnosis. Subsequent biopsies showed Olson never had MDS. Weiner defended his decisions, claiming treatments were justified by initial reports. Olson’s chemotherapy ceased in 2021, and in 2022, he sued St. Peter’s, resulting in a settlement. Finally eligible for a kidney transplant, Olson received one in 2023, offering hope for a longer life. He remains torn over Weiner’s motivations, pondering, “Did he just do this for money?”
For further information, explore our detailed investigation into Dr. Weiner’s case.
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