Italian surgeons arrested for performing unauthorized procedures on cancer patients

Tuesday, November 20, 2012 by: Ethan A. Huff, staff writer
Tags: surgeons, cancer patients, medical experiments

(NaturalNews) Nine Italian cardiologists were arrested recently after a slew of consumer groups filed complaints with the national government about what they claim were "suspicious" deaths at University-Hospital Polyclinic in Modena, which is located in northern Italy. According to the Associated Press (AP), the nine cardiologists had performed unauthorized treatment procedures on cancer patients, the details of which have not been formally disclosed.

Colonel Giovanni Capasso from the Italian military police told reporters that the government initiated a formal investigation into University-Hospital Polyclinic over a year ago after complaints began to roll in about questionable procedures taking place at the facility. The accused doctors reportedly engaged in corrupt behavior, and are now being charged with criminal association, embezzlement, defrauding the national health system, and performing "unauthorized experimental treatments," according to reports.

Among the nine, one has been jailed, while the others have been given house arrest. Also included in the sweep were 12 medical device companies, which have been officially precluded from ever again working with Italy's national health system. Though the precise number of deaths that allegedly resulted from the racket has not been officially disclosed, the action taken against the involved parties clearly indicates that the situation was serious, at least in the eyes of the national health system.

At the same time, the complete lack of details surrounding the case is somewhat suspicious, as the involved doctors may have simply been utilizing unofficial, but effective, treatment methods that were not necessarily approved by the health system. It is entirely possible that the health system simply became upset about the situation once it became privy to it, and decided to take swift and severe action against the violating entities.

"So did they 'experiment on patients,' or did they perform some off-label treatment a whole lot of doctors use that's maybe approved in other countries and the fix is in, and someone has a grudge against them to charge them with 'experimenting on patients' because not every 'I' was dotted nor every 'T' crossed?" asked one conscious commenter about the official AP story as it was posted over at MyFoxNY.com.

"Keep in mind that Italy just sent scientists to jail for failing to predict an earthquake. Not just accused them, not just charged them, not just tried them. Convicted them, sentenced them, and in sending them to jail," she added.

Sources for this article include:

http://www.myfoxny.com