Ira McClure, of Ballina, was spent $35,000 on medical practitioners to try and cure a cough. Picture: Matt Roberts Source:News Corp Australia
IT was a cough that ended up costing $35,000.
When a doctor referred Ira McClure for further treatment she had no idea the health facility was supportive of a controversial spiritual healing/new age group based in northern NSW.
During the course of her two-year treatment Ms McClure says she was sent to Universal Medicine for “esoteric” treatments.
Universal Medicine was founded by former tennis coach Serge Benhayon, who claims to be the reincarnation of Leonardo da Vinci.
Ms McClure, who has made a complaint to the Health Care Complaints Commission, claims she was not only misdiagnosed but also told she had to go on the lung transplant list. She claims she was also prescribed chemotherapy drugs.
The 55-year-old from Ballina says she was told she would also need “chemo washing” through “charka puncture” at Universal Medicine.
Ira McClure of Ballina. Picture: Matt Roberts Source: News Corp Australia
She alleges she was also advised to submit to a $70 lung massage which consisted of “just a stroking of my back”.
“I had one massage because it did nothing and $70 was dear,” she said.
“And while she was doing it she said ‘I feel something about your father’.”
In medical progress notes one of the people treating her wrote the No. 1 option for Ms McClure’s treatment was to “Fly Mrs McClure to Sirius (star 6.32 light years away)”.
Ms McClure claims the costs of her treatments were in excess of $35,087 with half out-of-pocket expenses.
When Ms McClure sought a second opinion from a physician, she was promptly diagnosed with bronchiectasis, given medication and is now well. “I feel really stupid now, but I was really sick at the time,” Ms McClure said.
The doctor hung up on The Sunday Telegraph when contacted for a response and did not return emails.
A spokesperson for Universal Medicine said he was still waiting for a response.
Professor John Dwyer from the Friends of Science in Medicine said he will be bringing Universal Medicine up at this Wednesday’s parliamentary hearing into the effectiveness of the Health Care Complaints Commission.
The Sunday Telegraph understands there is another complaint before the HCCC about Universal Medicine.
“There is a lack of consumer protection for vulnerable people,” Professor Dwyer said.
“Registered health practitioners, if they are supporting this pseudo-science, should be reported to their boards for investigation.”
Originally published as The cough that cost a woman $35,000
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