Key Takeaways
- The Saskatchewan government has asked the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Saskatchewan and the Financial and Consumer Affairs Authority to investigate concerns about the Dr. Goodenowe Restorative Health Center in Moose Jaw.
- The center, run by Dayan Goodenowe, claims to have a 100% success rate in halting and reversing the progress of ALS, a degenerative disease.
- A recent CBC investigation found that several clients of the center had paid large sums of money for treatment, but had not seen any improvement in their condition.
- The government is concerned that the center may be engaging in the unauthorized practice of medicine and that patients may be being harmed.
- The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Saskatchewan has been asked to investigate whether Goodenowe is violating any provisions of the Medical Profession Act.
Introduction to the Controversy
The Saskatchewan government has launched an investigation into a controversial health center in Moose Jaw, following a recent CBC investigation that raised concerns about the center’s claims and practices. The Dr. Goodenowe Restorative Health Center, run by Dayan Goodenowe, claims to have a 100% success rate in halting and reversing the progress of ALS, a degenerative disease that causes gradual muscle loss. However, several clients of the center have come forward to say that they paid large sums of money for treatment, but did not see any improvement in their condition.
The Ministry’s Concerns
The ministry of health is concerned that the center may be engaging in the unauthorized practice of medicine, and that patients may be being harmed. In a letter to the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Saskatchewan, deputy minister of health Tracey Smith wrote, "The ministry is concerned about this individual and private business engaging in what appears to be the unauthorized practice of medicine." The ministry is asking the college to take all appropriate steps, including opening a formal investigation into the center. The government is also calling for the Financial and Consumer Affairs Authority to probe concerns about the center, as it is a treasury crown corporation responsible for protecting consumers in the province.
The Center’s Claims and Practices
The center’s claims and practices have been called into question by several clients, including Susie Silvestri, a 70-year-old American woman who paid $84,000 USD for a three-month live-in program at the center. Silvestri’s health deteriorated during her stay at the center, and she was forced to flee the province in a rented ambulance to get life-saving surgery in the United States. The center’s brochure promises "biochemical restoration" using a "systemic protocol" of Goodenowe’s plasmalogen supplements, and claims to develop "fine-tuned individualized treatment plans" and "a personalized post-treatment plan" for clients.
The College’s Role
The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Saskatchewan has been asked to investigate whether Goodenowe is violating any provisions of the Medical Profession Act. The act prohibits non-doctors from treating any disease or ailment by medicine, drugs, or any form of treatment, and from using any title that would lead people to infer that they are registered under the act or are otherwise a physician. The college has been criticized for its handling of complaints about the center, including a complaint from Teresa Sando, whose husband Geoff has ALS and was treated at the center. Sando said that she was "ghosted" by the college after providing them with information about her husband’s experience at the center.
The Government’s Action
The government’s action comes after a recent CBC investigation that raised concerns about the center’s claims and practices. The investigation found that several clients of the center had paid large sums of money for treatment, but had not seen any improvement in their condition. The government is taking a proactive approach to address the concerns raised by the investigation, and is working to ensure that patients are protected from harm. The Financial and Consumer Affairs Authority will investigate concerns about the center’s business practices, and the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Saskatchewan will investigate whether Goodenowe is violating any provisions of the Medical Profession Act.
Conclusion
The controversy surrounding the Dr. Goodenowe Restorative Health Center in Moose Jaw has raised concerns about the unauthorized practice of medicine and the harm that patients may be experiencing. The Saskatchewan government has taken a proactive approach to address these concerns, and is working to ensure that patients are protected from harm. The investigation into the center’s claims and practices will provide more information about the center’s activities, and will help to determine whether Goodenowe is violating any provisions of the Medical Profession Act. The outcome of the investigation will have significant implications for the center and its clients, and will help to ensure that patients receive safe and effective treatment.