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Cancer Treatment Prosecutor investigates against medical practitioners for negligent homicide
After staying in an alternative cancer clinic on the Lower Rhine, three patients died. Although there is no evidence that the alternative practitioner working in the facility deliberately caused the deaths of the patients, the prosecution is now investigating the practitioner for negligent homicide.
Investigations for negligent homicide
Just a few days ago, the deaths of several patients had been reported after a questionable alternative medical cancer therapy. The deaths occurred after treatments in the "Klaus-Ross-Klinik" (Biological Cancer Center Bracht) in Brüggen-Bracht on the Lower Rhine. Now, the prosecutor investigates the practitioner for negligent homicide and negligent assault.
Following the deaths of three patients treated at an alternative cancer clinic, the prosecutor's office has started investigating a health practitioner. He should probably have been guilty of negligent homicide. (Image: zlikovec / fotolia.com) Patients treated with 3-bromopyruvate
According to a report by the news agency dpa recent investigations have substantiated the suspicion that the naturopath had treated between 25 and 27 July in his practice in Brüggen on the Lower Rhine five patients with the drug "3-Bromopyruvat". According to information from the Cancer Information Service in Heidelberg, this preparation has been investigated for several years in "experimental baseline studies", the AFP news agency reported.
Heilpraktiker was allowed to use the substance
The substance, which is not approved as a drug, is supposed to starve tumors, so to speak. According to the public prosecutor, the alternative practitioner was in principle entitled to use the substance. A communication states: "The investigation so far has not provided sufficient evidence that the accused intentionally caused death or harm to patients."
Three patients died
The investigation was triggered by the death of a 43-year-old woman from the Netherlands. The woman died at a hospital in Mönchengladbach on July 30, after being treated at the facility on July 25. She had complained of headache before she died, was at times confused and finally unresponsive.
A short time later, the police announced that on July 28, a 55-year-old Belgian woman had died, and one day later a 55-year-old from the Netherlands had died. Both were on July 27 in the alternative center in treatment. According to the prosecution, two more patients had gone for medical treatment for life-threatening symptoms.
Witness notes are evaluated
It has not yet been established whether the deaths of patients are directly related to the intake of "3-bromopyruvate" or whether they died as a result of their illness. It is said that mainly Dutch nationals were treated in practice. After the deaths became known, the police had asked people who had been treated at the cancer center to undergo "expert treatment" and report to the authorities.
According to the information, witness testimonies as well as evidence, which were ensured during the search of living and practice rooms of the accused Heilpraktiker, are now evaluated. This should therefore also provide information on whether further treatment cases must be included in the investigation.
Cancer Center regretted death of patient
The cancer center itself published a statement after the first death was reported, regretting the death of the patient, but also the fact that "alternative medicine, and especially our clinic, could be held responsible for the demise of one of our patients.".
Information about alternative healing methods
Health experts repeatedly point out that biological cancer therapy is by no means a therapy that may be seen as an "alternative". Any additional therapy must be done in consultation with the treating physicians. Information on alternative methods of treatment for cancer can be found, among others, on the online platform of the Competence Network Complementary Medicine in Oncology (KOKON). The project is funded by the German Cancer Aid. (Ad)