Conventional medicine ‘would have saved man’

A CORONER yesterday said a 49-year-old father of one, who died of suffocation caused by a cancer tumour while receiving alternative therapies, would still be alive had he had received conventional medicine.

Paul Howie’s wife claimed she had been subjected to “fear and terror” by Mulranny-based alternative therapist Mineke Kamper while Ms Kamper treated her husband, who died on April 22, 2003.

The jury returned a verdict of death by natural causes on Mr Howie, of 4 Lakelawns, Ballinrobe, Co Mayo, and recommended that anyone contemplating attending alternative health practitioners should first consult a registered medical practitioner.

The inquest in Castlebar was told by consultant pathologist Dr Iqdam Tobbia the dead man’s tumour was localised and could have been removed, treated by radiotherapy or chemotherapy to provide a longer and better quality of life.

Last night, Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) president Dr Istaq Assam said there was need for regulation of complementary therapies and alternative medicine.

Ms Kamper, who did not attend the inquest, was also called to an inquest in 2002 when another of her patients died after an asthmatic attack.

At yesterday’s hearing, South Mayo coroner John O’Dwyer said it was the second inquest he had conducted in which the deceased was persuaded to abandon conventional medicine. He said it was of great concern to him that unqualified practitioners in healthcare were not answerable to any regulatory authority.

“The Minister for Health needs to address this matter urgently so that more lives are not needlessly lost,” said Mr O’Dwyer.

He described as “pitiful” that the only recourse available to him was the imposition of a fine of €6.35 on Ms Kamper for failing to answer the summons served on her.

Ms Kamper was unavailable for comment.