‘Miracle’ autism cure warning

The organisation responsible for licencing medicines in Ireland has again warned the public against buying a ‘miracle’ cure for cancer and autism, following the conviction of a man who sold the bleach product this week.

The Health Product Regulatory Authority’s caution comes following the conviction of Patrick Merlehan, who was found guilty on two charges related to the manufacture and supply of Miracle Mineral Solution (MMS), an unauthorised medicinal product on the Irish market.

John Lynch, director of compliance, HPRA, repeated the authority’s warning against buying MMS: “We continue to warn the public not to buy medicines from unregulated sources.

“There is no way for consumers to know what substances such products actually contain and consequently they can pose a serious risk to your health. Additionally, you should only take prescription medicines under your doctor’s supervision,” he warned.

On Thursday, Judge Alan Mitchell at Naas District Court fined Merlehan of Newtown House, Newtown, Moone, Co Kildare a total of €4,000.

Following the conviction, the HPRA warned that MMS is a product “which contains a substance which is used in bleach and has no recognised therapeutic benefits”.

The court ruling follows a lengthy investigation by the HPRA, An Garda Síochána and the Garda regional support unit.

The MMS product was found following the execution of a search warrant on November 6, 2014 at Merlehan’s home.

The premises included the Ark Recycling business, which was controlled by Merlehan at the time of the investigation.

MMS has been promoted as a “cure” for autism, cancer, HIV, and other conditions, and has been notably championed by a group called the The Genesis II Church of Health and Healing. Its founder, self-appointed archbishop Jim Humble, is a former Scientologist who claims to have discovered MMS as a cure for malaria in 1996.