Detectives raid alternative cancer clinics

TWO disgraced doctors accused of selling false hope to terminally ill cancer patients had their premises raided by detectives yesterday.

More than a dozen Clare gardaí, backed up by 16 detectives from the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation and staff from the Irish Medicines Board, seized medication, medical equipment and documents in early morning raids on seven premises in Clare and Tipperary.

The doctors at the centre of the searches are Dr Paschal Carmody and Dr William Howard Porter. Dr Carmody was found guilty of professional misconduct earlier this year. Although banned from working as a doctor in Ireland, he is not restricted from working in alternative medicine. Dr Porter was struck off as an ophthalmologist in the US for gross negligence but has continued to offer alternative treatments in Ireland.

Speaking after the raids on his home and surgery, Dr Porter said it was a scandal that the photodynamic therapy (PDT) he offers to cancer patients is not being used on a wider scale in Ireland.

“Studies have been done all over the world ... I have full faith in the therapy ... The people are not being told about the option and that, to me, is scandalous.”

The form of PDT provided by Dr Porter is called cytoluminescent therapy, or CLT.

One review published in a US medical journal found 17 of 48 patients treated with CLT by Dr Porter in Killaloe, Co Clare, were dead within six months. The therapy costs up to €20,000.

Last May, Bernie Gallagher, whose husband JJ died after receiving treatment from Dr Carmody and Dr Porter, spoke on radio.

The Gallagher family say they were told by Dr Carmody: “We (speaking about himself and Dr Porter, who was also in the room) are not alone going to hold it (the cancer) at bay, we are going to destroy it.”

A further €17,500 was handed over to Dr Carmody but Mr Gallagher died shortly afterwards.

Searches began yesterday morning in Killaloe and continued later at Dr Porter’s properties at Marine Village, Ballina, Dr Carmody’s private house at Ballycuggaran, treatment centres at Tinerana House, a few miles from Killaloe, and his East Clare Clinic, situated close to the Catholic church in Killaloe.

Meanwhile, it emerged yesterday that Tipperary North Riding County Council intends to prosecute Dr Porter under the Planning and Development Act for allegedly operating his business from a private house.