Gloria Arroyo’s stem cell therapy doc blamed for cancer patient's death

A doctor offering stem cell therapy may face charges for the death of a cancer patient who allegedly underwent treatment similar to that administered to former president and incumbent Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. 

This was after it was found out that she is not a licensed doctor in the Philippines.

A report on GMA News TV's "News To Go" on Wednesday said a complaint has been filed against Dr. Antonia Carandang-Park at the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) by Bernard Tan, who claims that his daughter, Kate, died after going through the said alternative treatment. 

Park owns the Tagaytay-based Green & Young Health and Wellness Center where Arroyo—burdened by persistent trouble with her cervical spine—sought treatment in 2012. 

In an interview with GMA News, Tan said his daughter, who had Hodgkin's lymphoma (a type of cancer of the blood), was given "the same treatment that [Park] did with Gloria," which included "juicing diet, vegetable diet... acupuncture coffee enema, at 'yun na nga, stem cell."

Stem cell therapy introduces new adult stem cells into damaged tissue in order to treat disease or injury.

"Ang sabi niya, 'Give me three months, magaling na 'yan,'" Tan told GMA News. He added that his family was easily convinced to take their daughter to Park's wellness center because "Presidente na ng Pilipinas ang pumunta doon."

"Siguro naman na-scrutinize na nila 'yan, na-background check na nila 'yan," he said. "Kumbaga, 'yung credibility no'n, nag-build up na."

Kate was fed nothing but bananas and vegetable juices for three months, and had eight rounds of "embryonic" stem cell treatment, he said.

However, the 23-year-old lost even more weight, prompting the family to seek the assistance of a different doctor.
 

Seven months later, in July 2013, Kate passed away.

Following his daughter's death, Tan found out through the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) that Park was unlicensed to practice medicine here.

To blame death on Park ‘a stretch’

Park's lawyer, Stephen Cascolan, confirmed that his client does not have a license in the Philippines, adding, however, that she is "a licensed and awarded physician" in other countries.

According to her resume, Park studied medicine in Malaysia and London.

"In due time, she will show her credentials to the public," he told GMA News.

Cascolan added that it "would be a stretch" to blame Kate's death on Park because no stem cell treatment was administered on the patient and his client was not the physician at the time of death.

Kate's records, which Cascolan presented to GMA News, showed that she went through "wellness and detox procedure" alone.

Park has not received a formal complaint, but the doctor said she is ready to face any, the report said.

‘Experimental’

Meanwhile, the Philippine College of Physicians (PCP) warned that the success of stem cell therapy has yet to be guaranteed, since using it in some other conditions remain experimental. It also countered claims that it is an effective anti-aging treatment.

So far, the treatment has been said to cure leukemia, burn injuries, and a disease of the eye, it added.

The group also said the treatment should be given only by trained professionals in accredited facilities.

Dr. Anthony Leachon, vice president of the PCP, said there are a lot of risks involved in undergoing the procedure, which includes infection, spreading of the tumor, and embolism," a condition where the blood flow in an artery is blocked by a foreign body." 

For its part, the Department of Health said it will not comment on the issue until it has released guidelines on stem cell therapy. —Rose-An Jessica Dioquino/KG, GMA News