An association helping victims of sects denounces the “feeling of impunity” of fake doctors convicted of illegally practicing medicine

According to a franceinfo investigation, Miguel Barthéléry, who claims to cure cancer through “raw eating” and purges, continues his consultations despite a conviction for “illegal practice of medicine”.

Pascale Duval, director and spokesperson for the National Union of Associations for the Defense of Families and Individual Victims of Sects (UNADFI), denounced Monday January 22 on franceinfo the “feeling of impunity” of certain false doctors convicted of illegal practice of medicine, but who continue to practice. This is the case of Miguel Barthéléry who claims to cure cancer through “eat raw” and purges. Despite a conviction, the man continues his consultations, according to a franceinfo investigation, even though he is suspected of having caused the death of several terminally ill cancer patients. The “naturopath” has more than a hundred patients.

The feeling of impunity is “much more common than one might believe and it is an ancient phenomenon”, explained Pascale Duval. The Covid-19 crisis has given rise to parallel medicine orchestrated by gurus or healers of all kinds. Covid-19 “brought to light this type of fraudulent activity” but “they had been there for a long time and the land was already ready”.

“Healing gurus”

Pascale Duval does not wish to denigrate naturopathy: “Basically, the practice itself is not dangerous and that is important to say”. But, these fake doctors thrive by relying on the failures of the health system,” she explained. These “healing gurus” are going “taking advantage of loopholes, medical deserts, medical errors, etc.”continued the UNADFI spokesperson

Families are often distraught while their loved ones are under the influence of a guru. “What should alert you is when the person insists too much on questions about your personal life, when he begins to instill in you doubts about conventional medicine when you are seriously ill. He will keep you away from treatments that could possibly save you or at least extend your life”she explained.

A bill on sectarian aberrations will be presented to the National Assembly in February. The text provides in particular to create a new offense of provocation to abandonment of care. “We hope so with all our best wishes”indicated the director of UNADFI. “Of course we need a law because there are individuals who exercise control over a person and do what they want with them. It’s very difficult to prove in court.”, she stressed. Especially since relatives cannot file a complaint for the person who is under the influence. “For the moment, the law does not allow it”underlined Pascale Duval.