Sask. NDP and ALS society calling on province to investigate Moose Jaw health centre

Saskatchewan's Opposition NDP and the province's ALS society are calling on Minister of Health Jeremy Cockrill to launch an investigation into the Dr. Goodenowe Restorative Health Center in Moose Jaw. 

Last week, the CBC reported that Dr. Dayan Goodenowe, who runs the centre, tells patients with ALS that his supplements can stop and reverse the progress of the disease. On his YouTube account, he says, "stopping the progression of ALS actually isn't that hard."

He backs up his claim by pointing to some patients who say they feel better on his supplements. He also told CBC he's working on studies to verify their effectiveness.

Goodenowe charges ALS clients $75,000 US for his three-month live-in treatment program.

In CBC's story, some patients who took part said it did nothing to improve their condition.

The NDP and the ALS Society say there's no published scientific evidence to back up Goodenowe's claims. They say all of the science indicates ALS is a death sentence.

They said businesses should not be allowed to prey on vulnerable people.

"We're talking about people with an incurable disease, who are desperate for hope, being misled with promises that are not backed in any scientific evidence. This is false hope being sold for profit," NDP rural and remote health critic Jared Clarke said at a news conference Friday.

"We cannot allow unregulated facilities to target vulnerable people with misleading claims without any oversight or accountability. So today we are urging Minister Cockrill to act."

Denis Simard, executive director of the ALS Society of Saskatchewan, echoed that call at the news conference, saying "we would invite the ministry to do a special investigation." 

Simard made a similar request months ago. In a Feb. 12 letter, he asked Cockrill to look into Goodenowe's business and "take appropriate action to prevent the dissemination of false medical information that could exploit those facing ALS." 

Cockrill refused CBC's request for an interview. In a written statement, he indicated there's nothing the provincial government can do because Goodenowe's centre, "has no ties to the Saskatchewan health care system."

In interviews with CBC, Goodenowe regularly emphasized that he is not a medical doctor and his facility does not offer medical treatments or services. He has a Ph.D in Medical Sciences with an emphasis in psychiatry from the University of Alberta.

"It is a private business, not a provincially regulated health centre or affiliate," Cockrill wrote. "The individual operating it is not a licensed medical doctor, so he does not fall under any established health regulatory body."