New Storm Rages Over Braund’s Cancer Claims

Grey River Argus, 12 April 1948, Page 5

New Storm Rages Over Braund’s Cancer Claims

SYDNEY, April 10 A wealthy business man, Mr E. J. Halsltrom, yesterday presented to the Sydney Hospital £20.000 ior cancer research, and guaranteed an additional £6OOO a year for five years. “You all remember that I offered Mr J. Braund £20,000 to establish a clinic for cancer treatment —if he could cure cancer,” he said. ”1 feel I owe a debt to the public and that, having promised that money, 1 should do something with it.” It was an infamous lie to suggest that he di dnot have a cure for cancer, said Mr J. Braund, of Sydney, in commenting on the. report of the committee which investigated his treamtent and claims. He had cured hundreds of cases and would continue his cancer treatments. LN.Z.P.A. Special Correspondent.] SYDNEY, April 9. Though the committee set up by the New South Wales State Govern-, ment to investigate Mr. John Braund’s claim that he can cure cancer has found his case unproved, he has announced that he will continue to treat cancer patients. Sydney newspapers are pressing for publication of the full report of the committee. It has also been suggested that Mr. Braund should not. be permitted to continue practising while his claims are not upheld. When, after newspaper reports ot Mr. Braund’s claims, the Government announced the formation of the committee, with a medical sub-com-mittee, Australian citizens were pleased with this approach to what they felt might prove one of the most important medical discoveries of the century. Soma disillusionment was felt during the next few weeks, as the papers told of a series of squabbles between the elderly Mr. Braund and members of the investigating committee. Mr. Braund was reported as saying that he disliked and distrusted doctors, who he considered had failed where he had succeeded. Four members of the committee, including three doctors, were in fact his own nominees. The committee was carefully selected in order to obtain a balanced opinion and at the same time to avoid giving offence to Mr. Braund. During the investigation he gave further evidence of his dissatisfaction by claiming that the medical sub-committee had rejected some of his most important cases. DEMAND FOR PUBLICATION. Now the medical sub-committee has concluded its investigations, its report has been adopted unanimously by the full committee, and, the full report will be tabled in the State Parliament on Thursday. “Whatever its nature, it should be published promptly and fully,” says the Sydney “Morning Herald”. “Only thus can the thousands of cancer victims, so vitally and eagerly interested, be enabled to form an accurate estimate of Mr. Braund’s capabilities. The bare announcement that his claims have not been substantiated is not enough.” A growing body of opinion, however, is asking why the law cannot prevent Mr. Braund from practising ■ until his claims a're proved. During the week-end a New Zealand boy Roderick Nairn, received treatment, and Mr. Braund reported “a noticeable diminution of the swelling.” He is one of many patients treated since the committee concluded its investigation, and apparently there will be many more. As Mr. Braund uses no surgery, he cannot be restrained by law unless it is proved beyond doubt that his treatment is directly responsible for the death of a patient. “Patients have come here from abroad in a last desperate hope against hope,” says the Sydney “Daily Telegraph”. “If an impartial, qualified investigation has proved Mr. Braund’s claims to be false, he should not be allowed to sell them to people who are prepared to grasp at any straw.”