KNXV: Suicide Note Warns of Steroid Use

August 19, 2008— -- The deaths of three patients have raised concerns about steroids allegedly sold by a Phoenix, Ariz. medical clinic, according to an investigation by ABC News affiliate KNXV-TV.

ABC15 in Phoenix reports that one of the patients left behind a suicide note reading, "Stop using steroids. They will destroy your life or anyone with you."

Phoenix-based Revolution Medical Centers is currently under state and federal investigation for illegally prescribing steroids, according to the KNXV report. Documents obtained by ABC15 showed that the three dead patients were taking steroids given to them by Revolution Medical Centers.

Brian Stubstad, who wrote the suicide note just before taking his life with a shotgun, had been a Revolution Medical Centers patient for two years and was taking a powerful steroid not meant for human use, according to his medical chart obtained by ABC15.

Authorities are now investigating whether Stubstad's death, as well as those of the other two patients, are linked to steroids they allegedly received from Revolution Medical Centers.

"We're looking to see if there is a causal relationship between the death and the treatment or therapy they were given," medical examiner Dr. Craig Runbeck told ABC15.

Although initial autopsy reports do not mention steroids, ABC15 reports that investigators plan to conduct additional tests.

Dr. Jeremy Bula, the owner of Revolution Medical Centers denied steroids played a role in the patients' deaths.

"Patients die everywhere," said Bula. "They didn't die as a result of anabolic steroid use."

(Click here to read and view ABC15's full report)

Revolution Medical Centers clinic in Phoenix closed for business in the wake of an ABC15 hidden camera report in April that documented how easy it was to obtain steroids at the clinic. An undercover reporter was prescribed more than $2000 dollars worth of anabolic steroids and human growth hormone after simply telling a clinic doctor that he wanted to put on size.