Following is a reproduction of a press release from the Queensland Minister for Tourism and Fair Trading, the Honourable Peter Lawlor.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Unregistered health provider ordered to stop misleading cancer patients
A Mackay woman who made misleading and deceptive claims about a mineral supplement has been ordered by the Brisbane Supreme Court to discontinue providing intravenous treatment to cancer patients. Minister for Fair Trading Peter Lawlor said unregistered health provider Jillian Margaret Newlands was caught administering a concoction made from a mixture of citric acid and sodium chlorite to cancer sufferers and claiming the product cured cancer.
“The Office of Fair Trading was alerted to Ms Newland’s activities following a Health Quality Complaints Commission investigation. The Office of Fair Trading sought an injunction under the Fair Trading Act 1989 to prevent her from misleading and deceiving consumers,” Mr Lawlor said.
“Ms Newlands has no formal qualifications as a nurse or naturopath,” Mr Lawlor said. “Ms Newlands went so far as to inject her ‘patients’ with a ‘miracle mineral supplement’ while dishonestly promoting its benefits with no scientific basis for her claims.
The court order obtained by the Office of Fair Trading banned Ms Newlands from administering any substance intravenously and supplying any goods, services or any other substance which has not been approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration.”
“Ms Newlands was ordered to pay court costs of more than $12,000 and has also been restrained from making any claims she is able to treat, cure, or benefit any person suffering from cancer” he said. “She charged cancer sufferers up to $2000 for treatment services she administered in her home garage and went so far as to advise one cancer patient not to pursue chemotherapy treatment”.
“There was no evidence of any sterile handling techniques or any proper storage of medical utensils and equipment used by Ms Newlands at her home. “This sort of deceptive conduct is completely unacceptable.
If consumers have concerns in regards to their dealings with Jillian Newlands, they should visit their nearest healthcare professional immediately.
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This story begins with an investigation by A Current Affair earlier this year, with the help of our very own Loretta Marron, where she went undercover with a hidden camera. You can watch the video below.
Loretta Marron busts a cancer quack on A Current Affair
News articles of the story today cite evidence from a cancer patient who was told not to seek chemotherapy treatment. This cancer patient is our very own Loretta. In fact, it was her who contacted the QLD Health Complaints Commission and told them to get in touch with A Current Affair for the footage.
Readers of my Zone blog would also be aware that it is illegal in NSW to claim to cure incurable illnesses including cancer, in accordance with the Code of Conduct for Unregistered Practitioners. Perhaps QLD will one day get a similar code, but in the meantime I applaud the hard work and tenacity of Loretta Marron and congratulate her on her continued efforts to protect the vulnerable and sick from opportunistic quacks.
