BioPulse's Tijuana Cancer Clinic Raises Concerns in Mexico
Tijuana, Mexico, Feb. 9 (Bloomberg) -- BioPulse International
Inc.'s cancer clinic in Tijuana, which performs controversial
treatments include placing patients in daily comas, is to be
inspected by local authorities who say those therapies may be
illegal.
Mexican health officials from the northwestern state of Baja
California, which borders California, say they will visit the
clinic to verify that it isn't violating its license, which
permits it only to perform ambulatory therapy.
``Although we haven't done a recent inspection, we've heard
that they are conducting treatments that, to be benevolent, I
would call novel,'' said Alfredo Gruel, head of regulation at the
state's Public Health Service Institute. He said such treatments
weren't mentioned in BioPulse's license request.
Gruel said he is checking with Mexico's federal authorities
to find out if treatments similar to those BioPulse performs had
been permitted in Mexico City.
``We aren't against alternative medicine, but we should look
after people's health,'' he said. Last year, the state's health authorities closed 12 clinics in Tijuana, he said.
Jonathan Neville, BioPulse's chief executive, declined to
comment on the Mexican health official's statements.
Mexico's concerns about the clinic were earlier reported by
the San Diego Union. Last month, Bloomberg News reported that
publicly traded BioPulse's cancer therapies haven't been proven
safe or effective, and may be dangerous, according to U.S. cancer
experts.
In midday trading, BioPulse shares were quoted at $7.47, down
9 cents.
--David Evans in Los Angeles, (310) 910-8811 or
davidevans@bloomberg.net and Eduardo Garcia in Mexico City through
the New York newsroom (212) 318-2300/fk |
