The so-called “Dr Pot” who injected cannabinoids into two women with ovarian cancer has been referred to the medical practitioners’ watchdog for identifying as a doctor with an anti-medicine outfit called the Church of Ubuntu.
Andrew Katelaris, who is deregistered and permanently banned from injecting any cannabis substance into people or using any derivatives in the treatment of cancer, is a consultant for the Newcastle-based Church of Ubuntu, which has been caught up in a controversial case that cannot be detailed for legal reasons.
A complaint from a member of the public to the Health Care Complaints Commission raised concern that Mr Katelaris had been advising in the above case by providing “dangerous dietary advice along with the administration of cannabis”.
In its reply, the commission “determined it appropriate to refer the matter to the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency for their management”. “We have requested that (AHPRA) provide you with the outcome of their investigation,” it said.
The commission investigated Mr Katelaris last year for administering injections of cannabis products directly into the abdominal cavities of two ovarian cancer patients, one of whom later died.
In a succinct summary of their findings, the commission said Mr Katelaris’s cannabis trial “lacked authorisation, ethics approval, scientific legitimacy and credibility” and that he “put his own interests in self-protection and self-promotion ahead of the health and safety of two vulnerable women suffering from ovarian cancer”.
The Australian can also reveal Mr Katelaris has been caught selling cannabis oil with significantly elevated levels of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) to parents for use with their young children. One mother said she had the oil tested by researchers at the University of Sydney in a blind test and found her five-year-old daughter was receiving about 2.2mg of THC a day. She had believed it was much less. The Australian has seen the test results from the university.
“I consider myself massively qualified but I have never pretended I am registered,” he said.
“In fact my motto is ‘trust me, I’m deregistered’.” He said he makes his own cannabis oil.
credit:420intel.com