Paul M. Fleiss facts for kids

Paul Murray Fleiss (September 8, 1933 – July 19, 2014) was an American pediatrician and author. He was known for having some different ideas about health. Dr. Fleiss was a very popular and sought-after children's doctor in the Greater Los Angeles area. He cared for many patients, from families living near his Los Feliz office to famous people in Southern California. He was a supporter of breastfeeding and had unique views on some medical topics.

Early Life and Career

Paul Fleiss first studied to become a pharmacist and an osteopath. An osteopath is a doctor who focuses on the body's structure and how it affects health. He moved from Detroit to California. This was because of a law in 1962 that allowed osteopaths to change their degree to an MD (Medical Doctor).

He earned his Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in pharmacy from Wayne State University. He received his D.O. degree from the University of California, Irvine. Later, he earned his Masters in Public Health (M.P.H.) from UCLA.

Legal Matters

In 1995, Paul Fleiss faced legal issues. He admitted to helping his daughter with a loan application by providing false information. This led to him being sentenced to one day in prison, three years of probation, 625 hours of community service, and a $50,000 fine.

A TV movie was made in 1996 called The Good Doctor: The Paul Fleiss Story. It showed Paul Fleiss in a positive way. The movie was later renamed The Making of a Hollywood Madam when it was shown on cable television.

Family Life

Paul Fleiss was married to Elissa Ash before they divorced. He had four daughters: Heidi, Amy, Shana, and Kim. He also had two sons, Jesse and Jason. Sadly, Jason passed away before his father.

Paul Fleiss died on July 19, 2014, in Los Angeles. He was 80 years old.

Medical Ideas

Dr. Fleiss was known for his unique medical ideas. For example, he supported the idea of a "family bed," where parents and children sleep together. While he suggested that his young patients get their vaccines, he did not always insist on it.

Helping Children

The Los Angeles Times newspaper described Dr. Fleiss as "everyone's favorite baby doctor." For thirty years, he was "one of Southern California's most sought-after physicians." He was sometimes called a "pediatrician to the stars" because many famous people or their children were his patients.