Di Bella urges doctors to test method Says he has nothing to hide or gain as long as review is according to his specifications By Paola Bernardini A doctor's objective is to heal. And healing patients is its own reward. I have taught for 40 years at the University of Modena, I'm already retired, and I have no need to make any extra money. I'm rich because I have no needs." Quiet, carefully pondering every word, Dr. Luigi Di Bella addressed those who asked him why he wants to provide his protocols free of charge. The Italian physiologist did not appear at all tired the morning after being mobbed by media and supporters at Pearson International Airport. That Monday morning, he hosted a press conference beside Giancarlo Florio, president of the Pro Di Bella Association, at Queen's Park. Di Bella glanced briefly at his spokesperson Ivano Camponeschi, standing behind him, adjusted his jacket, and then began answering queries. 'Follow my instructions' "Should Canada decide to conduct clinical trials on my cancer-fighting method, I would certainly accept whatever results they may yield, as long as my instructions are followed to the letter. However, I should first know more about the laws of this country. Specifically, if Canada's laws allow for the application of my protocol. This would be the simplest and most immediate way to test the efficacy of my method." This statement clashes with the recent skepticism expressed by Di Bella himself concerning the clinical trials that are currently being conducted in Italy. And, considering that the Di Bella therapy is currently being made freely available, Canada could become the testing ground for the therapy. Thousands feel better "Even though I have no need for further proof," Di Bella went on to say, "because there already are thousands of people who feel better. By that I mean that the tumors, along with all accompanying symptoms, are gone. In many cases, the tumoral mass has vanished completely in a span of time that can vary from a few months to a few years. And, even after all symptoms have disappeared, it's wise to continue with the therapy because the tumor can continue to have an effect on the body even if it is not physically present." The doctor appeared puzzled at the reaction from the Canadian delegation that visited Italy and last Friday presented Joe Volpe, parliamentary secretary to Minister of Health Allan Rock with a report advising against commencing clinical trials in Canada. Negativity puzzling "The Canadian delegation was allowed to ask me any questions they wanted. And I believe I have answered their queries in great detail. For this reason, the negative judgment they passed on my method surprises me. They said that I did not provide them with sufficient documentation. To me, the essential proof rests not with the healing of a neoplastic cell in vitro or of a guinea pig, but with the healing or the improvement of the condition of a cancer patient. If the Canadian delegation had warned me earlier of their visit, I would have been able to prepare some patients and would have provided them with some proof. Then again, even if I had provided them with my patients' medical records, I believe that people would have doubted the validity of my results anyway. "The substances used in my method are not toxic," continued Di Bella, "and therefore can do no harm. This is the first important criterion, and that is fully guaranteed. The second criterion I follow is to use substances useful and effective for the curing of the patient. For this reason I say that so-called clinical trials can be conducted. But it should be noted that I have used this method for over 20 years in my private practice and this has led me to affirm that a good number of tumors can be cured." All the substances the Modena doctor uses have already been approved individually and their effectiveness has already been proven. But are doctors willing to accept the fact that these substances, when combined, can still work? Different principles "This is one of the problems. Many doctors don't accept my method not because of the substances used but because the principles followed are different. The method that they use is chemotherapy, which means killing malignant cells through the injection of poisons. For my part, I use no poisons to kill neoplastic cells. And as you can see, the principles are completely different. "In Italy clinical testing is being conducted by the same oncologists who have already issued negative and offensive statements about me. For this reason alone, the results of the clinical trials should be questioned. "Aside from this, the Italian court system has been called upon to intervene in the matter because the protocols have been altered, meaning the doses given to patients differed from those I had suggested." What does Di Bella have to say to the thousands of Canadians ready to travel to Italy to be treated with his method? Will teach others "I have already received several patients coming from Canada and, within realistic limitations, I have tried to accommodate them. And I will continue to do so in order to prevent unscrupulous people from taking advantage of others. The possibility of preventing the damage caused by a tumor is real. But a person who suffers from cancer can't always come to Italy. My proposal would be to dictate my methodology, to tell which substances are needed and how they should be administered. As long as I live I will make myself available to anyone who seeks counsel or who wishes for me to supervise this process." Yet in order to do this doctors should be willing to accept and learn his instructions. "Doctors aren't ready yet, but they should first listen to their conscience and to their patients. A doctor's conscience should stop him or her from doing harm, and the sole fact of not advising what's good is inherently bad." How much would the therapy cost in Canada? asked a reporter. "Well, I don't know the kind of facilities you have in Canada, so I can't take into account your health care system. However, if the price of the substances contained in my cocktail are not artificially inflated for personal monetary gain, in most cases the cure could be made available at affordable rates." No profit to doctor The reporter noted that some people have paid up to $30,000 for only three months' worth of therapy. "They certainly did not pay that kind of money to me. My wish is to make these substances available to the community at affordable prices. On the other hand, you live in a country that is at the forefront of civilization and whose laws you must follow. "If someone in Canada asked me what substances to use for the method and how to administer them, I would be more than willing to help anyone who wished to know," the doctor concluded.