‘Message of prosecution is working’

translation of
http://www.telegraaf.nl/binnenland/3989172/__Straf_Jomanda_opent_ogen_patient__.html?p=3,1

Jomanda sentence opens eyes of cancer patients
by René Steenhorst

AMSTERDAM – The number of cancer patients in the Netherlands who are turning their backs on hospitals to look for healing in the murky world of alternative practitioners has declined dramatically under the influence of the ‘Sylvia Millecam versus Jomanda’ drama.

"It’s been virtually decimated,” says psychologist Prof. Dr. Frits van Dam, who for many years was attached to the Dutch Cancer Institute/ Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital (AvL) in Amsterdam. “Incidents like this one have opened the eyes of a great many people. The message which is being put out by the prosecution of Jomanda has worked: People, be careful about whose hands you put your fate in.”

According to Van Dam, this is the major benefit of the demand for a twelve-month suspended prison sentence issued yesterday by the Public Prosecutor’s Office (PPO) against Jomanda, for complicity in the death of actress Sylvia Millecam. Van Dam recently carried out research in the AvL into the number of people with cancer who follow alternative diets or who are actively involved in the alternative circuit. “Eight years ago, this was still around 12 – 15% of the patients, now this was dropped to only a couple of percent.”

Delighted

When asked, Professor Van Dam responds in his capacity of secretary of the Association Against Quackery. Together with the Skepsis Foundation, which exposes pseudosciences, the anti-quackery association brought the Jomanda case before the courts. “We are extremely delighted about this demand. Particularly because this case, which has now lasted seven years, was dropped by the PPO several years ago; at the time, it saw no reason for prosecution. And now look what’s happened! We’ve got a year’s suspended sentence out of it. And a ban on Jomanda and two alternative doctors who are also complicit, for totally inadequate care in the Millecam case. They will not be allowed to perform any treatments, healings or associated practices for two years.”

The last real cancer specialist who Sylvia Millecam consulted in the AvL was Dr. Emiel Rutgers, who is currently extraordinary professor of surgical oncology at the University of Amsterdam, specialising in the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer. He does have some hesitation about the PPO’s demand: “One wonders if the demand is high enough. On the other hand, it does send out a strong signal. Neverthess, in my opinion, if you see that a fellow human being is suffering, it is your duty to help. If you know that someone has cancer - Sylvia knew this and so did Jomanda - then it is nothing less than criminal to maintain your insistence that it is not cancer, but an infection.”

Rutgers reveals that he received a thank-you letter from Sylvia Millecam after their meeting. “She was a person who kept control in her own hands. But she wrote to me that she knew that she had breast cancer, that she appreciated our treatment, that she preferred to try ‘Switzerland’ first, but asked if she could come back to us later if necessary. Of course she would have been able to do this. But Jomanda kept her away from us.”

In the criminal case against the two alternative doctors and the healing medium Jomanda, the Public Prosecutor, Birgit van Roessel, referred to Sylvia Millecam as a strong personality – “Intelligent, with a zest for life, modern and with a fiery character”.

Millecam also had another side: insecure, credulous, easily influenced and scared. According to Van Roessel, this other side must have made her susceptible to the outlooks and advice of the two doctors and Jomanda, with all the consequences this entailed.

Public Prosecutor demands suspended jail sentence

http://www.radionetherlands.nl/news/zijlijn/6311219/Conditional-jail-term-for-faith-healer

Conditional jail term for faith healer

Published: Friday 22 May 2009 14:20 UTC
Last updated: Friday 22 May 2009 14:45 UTC
The public prosecutor's office has demanded a conditional 12-month jail term against faith healer Jomanda, plus a two-year period during which she will not not be allowed to hold healing sessions. The public prosecutor is accusing the healer of being co-responsible for the death of actress Sylvia Millecam, who died in 2001 from untreated breast cancer.

Jomanda is said to have convinced Ms Millecam that she was merely suffering from a bacterial infection and dissuaded her from visiting a regular doctor. In the same court case, two alternative practitioners were on trial, against whom eight months of conditional prison terms were demanded. They too would be barred from treating patients for two years.

http://www.dutchnews.nl/news/archives/2009/05/faith_healer_faces_suspended_s.php

Faith healer faces suspended sentence

Friday 22 May 2009

Faith healer Jomanda is facing a 12-month suspended jail sentence for her role in treating tv presenter Silvia Millecam, who died of cancer in 2001.

Jomanda and other alternative therapists are currently on trial in connection with Millecam's death from breast cancer. She had rejected tradtional treatment.

The public prosecution department says Jomanda should get a suspended sentence for telling the actress she did not have cancer. The two therapists face eight and four months in jail, both suspended for two years.

If found guilty, the ruling means Jomanda would be sent to jail if she persists in holding her mass faith healing ceremonies within a two-year period, news agency ANP says.

‘Jomanda used con tricks’

translated from: http://www.telegraaf.nl/binnenland/3905888/___Jomanda_gebruikte_oplichterstrucs___.html?cid=rss

HILVERSUM - It appears that Jomanda used confidence tricks in her treatment of actress Sylvia Millecam. She obtained information from others, including Millecam’s beautician, in order to present them to Millecam as information which she had ‘received’ as a medium.

This was stated by Ronald ter Heegde in the TV programme Nova on Tuesday. Ter Heegde was paranormal healer Jomanda’s personal assistant for many years. The criminal case against Jomanda and two alternative doctors is currently being heard by the court in Amsterdam. The three are accused of joint responsibility for the death of Millecam by keeping her away from regular medical care. Millecam died of breast cancer in 2001.

'Quack' loses at High Court

Translation of http://www.nos.nl/nosjournaal/artikelen/2009/5/15/kwakzalververliestbijhogeraad.html

The Association Against Quackery is allowed to call alternative doctor Sickesz a quack. The appeal court had previously forbidden this, but the Supreme Court has now nullified this decision.

The association drew up a Top 20 of quacks in 2000. This included Sickesz, who performs orthomanual therapies. According to the association, she claims - without proof - that the method, which involves straightening vertebrae, also helps against autism, among other things.

She successfully fought against the characterisation as a quack, but the Supreme Court has found that the appeal court insufficiently addressed the objections of the association.

Infant Dies after Craniosacral Therapy

Repost from:
http://anaximperator.wordpress.com/2009/05/07/infant-dies-after-craniosacral-therapy/


In the Dutch Medical Journal, authors from the University Hospital St. Radboud in Nijmegen reported a tragic case-history of which the summary follows here:

A formerly healthy, three months old girl died after manipulation of the neck and the vertebral column by a so called “craniosacral therapist.” During continued and deep bending of the neck, the patient developed incontinence of faeces, atonia and respiratory arrest followed by aystolia. Based on findings at the physical examination of the body, an additional MRI examination and the autopsy, it is likely that the cause of death was a local neurovascular or a mechanical respiratory-induced problem. This is the second report of infant death after forced manipulation of the neck. As long as there is no scientific evidence for the efficacy and safety of forced manipulation of the neck and the vertebral column, we advise against this treatment for newborns and infants.

Reference:
Micha Holla, Marloes M. IJland et al. Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd, 2009

Spiritual healer goes on trial

http://www.radionetherlands.nl/news/zijlijn/6294363/Spiritual-healer-goes-on-trial

Published: Monday 11 May 2009 07:21 UTC
Last updated: Monday 11 May 2009 08:20 UTC
In Amsterdam the court case opens today concerning the death of actress and TV presenter Sylvia Millecam. The self-styled medium and faith healer known as Jomanda and two alternative doctors are on trial because they told Millecam her cancer needed no treatment. Jomanda, charged with causing grievous bodily harm, convinced Millecam she was suffering from a bacterial infection. The actress died of untreated breast cancer in 2001.

The medium, who is currently in Canada, will not be attending today's hearing in person. According to her lawyer she has a foreboding about the timing of the trial, and believes it would not be safe for her to travel to Amsterdam.