Experts are sounding the alarm about so-called treatments that promise everything from detoxification to anti-aging, and in light of the debate that has arisen around plasmapheresis, they are urging the public to be wary of this “trade in hope.”
“Just imagine if someone had discovered the elixir of youth. To stay young forever—to have discovered the cure for aging. He wouldn’t be in Kolonaki; he’d be a multimillionaire, he’d be forever young, and we’d all know him. “We have these guys who run private clinics, charge a fortune, and make fools of people.”
Alexis Rambotas – Hematologist, Academic Clinical Lecturer at the UCL Cancer Institute/UCLH
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
“It really surprises us a lot of times when people come in and tell us, ‘I took an alternative treatment,’ and I say, ‘Great, bring the medications so we can see what you took.’ And these are preparations with no labeling whatsoever, and no one knows what they’re putting into their bodies.”
Haris Armeftis – Pulmonologist, President of the Hellenic Thoracic Society
Everyone agrees on the need for thorough inspections by the relevant departments of the Ministry of Health to prevent such incidents.
“Anyone who advertises, promotes, anything at all should be scrutinized, and the opinion of the scientific societies related to this—if you will—treatment or management of a condition, in quotation marks, should be sought.”
Haris Armeftis – Pulmonologist, President of the Hellenic Thoracic Society
“Greece and Cyprus should become, in this regard, the countries or places where you know that when you go to a clinic or see a doctor, there are international guidelines, it’s clear how things are done, and we have the highest quality of medical care.”
Alexis Rambotas – Hematologist, Academic Clinical Lecturer at the UCL Cancer Institute/UCLH
“Essentially, there must be vigilance, and wherever and whenever an illegal act is detected, it must be reported immediately, because the police have shown in many cases that they investigated very swiftly and brought justice.”
Marios Spyrou – Attorney
Complaints should even be filed regarding the facility where a medical procedure is performed, since, according to experts, there are specific guidelines, bearing in mind that complications may arise and all necessary safeguards must be in place.
Watch the report by Nasia Ioannou
