ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, October 19, 1996 TAG: 9610210068
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-4 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: BALTIMORE
SOURCE: Associated Press
When Dr. Grace Ziem saw the two patients, she was immediately suspicious, wondering why apparently healthy women would complain of chest pains and headaches they believed were caused by everyday chemicals.
Then a colleague told her ABC correspondent John Stossel was preparing a report on ``junk science.'' Ziem figured she was being set up.
So she struck back - through the legal system.
Now Stossel and four others are charged with illegally tape-recording the meeting with Ziem, a nationally recognized expert in the field of multiple chemical sensitivity. They could get five years in prison if convicted at a trial next month.
``It never occurred to me while I was seeing the [women] that they would be taping me,'' Ziem said. ``I thought, `This is ABC News. These aren't thugs.'''
ABC News said the accusations are groundless.
``In fact, no such recordings were made or criminal laws violated,'' spokeswoman Julie Hoover said Friday.
Maryland is one of 12 states that bar tape-recording a conversation without the permission of both parties, according to the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press.
According to Ziem, ABC associate producer Deborah Stone and her sister-in-law Julie Stone visited Ziem's office in July, complaining of headaches, lightheadedness, unusual thirst and chest pains.
Chemical sensitivity is when such symptoms are caused by exposure to toxic chemicals found in everyday items such as paint, pesticides, carpeting and perfume.
The doctor said both women seemed healthy.
``Julie had rosy cheeks and just looked the picture of health,'' she said. ``I remembered thinking, `I've never seen a [chemical sensitivity] patient with rosy cheeks before.'''
Then, she said, an associate heard from a colleague that Stossel had sent two phony patients to Ziem.
Ziem said she initially agreed to give Stossel an interview. But she changed her mind, believing Stossel would misrepresent her work and the seriousness of multiple chemical sensitivity.
Ziem filed a criminal complaint, and Stossel, producer Brian Ellis, associate producer Pamela Troutman, Deborah Stone and Julie Stone were charged under the state's wiretap law.
LENGTH: Medium: 52 linesby CNB