Fined for breaches
A JAGGAN woman who invented and sold capsules which she claimed could cure cancer has been dealt with by the Cairns Magistrates Court for three counts of contravening an interim prohibition order by Queensland’s Health Ombudsman.
Deidre Karen Brophy, 66, pleaded guilty to three charges of contravening an interim prohibition order in exchange for the dropping of two others in court on Wednesday.
Health Ombudsman prosecutor Rachelle Logan told the court Brophy had been issued with a Health Ombudsman prohibition order on July 15, 2016, which prevented her from providing any health service.
Ms Logan told the court Ms Brophy operated an online shop through the website Total Health Thermal Imaging between August 2020 and June 2021 which displayed health products including Covid-19 assistance kits and “Cankill”, a product which Brophy claimed in an interview with investigators she had invented and which could cure cancer and improve immune and digestive symptoms.
The court heard that after the passing of her husband in May 2020, Brophy had assumed control of the website and therefore provided the “health service”.
The other two charges related to one instance of a Therapeutic Goods Administration investigator ordering and receiving a package of “Cankill” from Brophy’s website and another occasion in June 2021 where Brophy provided massages to two travellers.
Ms Logan submitted a fine of between $7000 and $10,000 was in range.
Magistrate Bevan Hughes, considering Brophy’s age, negligible income, stage of life, and taking judicial notice of her difficulty making ends meet, and the impact of the proceedings which had reduced her ability to grieve the loss of her husband, fined her $5000.
The fine was referred to SPER and a conviction was recorded.
Mr Hughes said he did not consider it just and reasonable to order her to pay the $5130.25 in costs sought by the Health Ombudsman.