Dr John defends medical practice amidst NYT report

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Prominent local physician, Dr Joseph ‘Joey’ John has defended his medical practice following a New York Times investigation into an experimental cancer treatment programme that was carried out at his clinic.


Dr John, who has practiced medicine for over three decades, responded to allegations regarding blood filtration treatments that were administered at his facility through a partnership with US-based ExThera Medical and Quadrant Management, stating that claims about inadequate care were “systematically untrue.”


“In the instance of our treatment of terminally ill cancer patients with multiple, complex medical challenges, our team of highly qualified doctors and nurses provides the best possible care with the highest degree of professionalism,” Dr John stated. “We take great pride in our work and the positive impact we have made on thousands of lives, even in the face of difficult circumstances.”


The article, which first appeared on January 23, stated that ExThera Medical partnered with Quadrant Management to offer blood filtering treatments in Antigua using their Seraph 100 device, charging $45,000 per course.


The device, while FDA-approved for emergency COVID-19 cases in the United States, had not been approved for cancer treatment.
The investigation reported that patients were advised to abstain from chemotherapy between treatments.


The Times investigation alleged that a company medical director warned executives about safety concerns after witnessing complications during treatments.
Questions were also raised about the marketing of preliminary study results from Croatia, which involved only 12 participants.
The report detailed concerns about blood loss during procedures and complications with the filtering process.


While unable to discuss specific patient cases due to medical confidentiality requirements, Dr John emphasized that his clinic upholds rigorous medical standards and is known for providing compassionate care.


The physician expressed sympathy for families who have lost loved ones to terminal illnesses while firmly maintaining that his clinic has consistently provided quality care.


“Both our medical team and our facilities are known to be of the highest standards and have contributed to saving many lives over the last 30 years,” Dr John added


Quadrant Management company representatives allegedly promoted the treatment to American patients while in the US and in response to these allegations, they maintained they made no specific treatment recommendations and emphasized that patients made their own decisions in consultation with doctors.


The company stated they reminded patients “at multiple steps” that the therapy was experimental.


A study published by the British Cancer Journal (BCJ) in early 2024 looked into the blood filtering technology at the center of the controversy.


The research, conducted by scientists at the University of Southern California and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, examined the same ExThera Seraph 100 filter that was used in Antigua, but under controlled laboratory conditions.


The study, which tested the device on blood samples from six pancreatic cancer patients, found that while the filter could remove some circulating tumor cells from blood samples, this represented only preliminary proof-of-concept data.


The researchers explicitly stated that extensive clinical trials would be needed before any therapeutic use could be considered.
The lead author of the study, Dr Peter Kuhn, noted that their findings showed “initial proof of concept that this filtration device can remove CTCs from circulation,” but emphasized this was only a first step that “may therefore be useful as a therapy or adjunct in patient care” after proper clinical testing.

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