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Guilty plea in herb 'cancer' case Guilty plea in herb 'cancer' case
(20 minutes later)
A practitioner of Chinese medicine has pleaded guilty to selling a banned substance to a woman who went on to develop kidney failure and cancer.A practitioner of Chinese medicine has pleaded guilty to selling a banned substance to a woman who went on to develop kidney failure and cancer.
Ying "Susan" Wu, 48, of Holland-on-Sea in Essex, is on trial at the Old Bailey for supplying pills containing aristolochic acid to a civil servant.Ying "Susan" Wu, 48, of Holland-on-Sea in Essex, is on trial at the Old Bailey for supplying pills containing aristolochic acid to a civil servant.
Patricia Booth, 58, took the pills, bought at Chelmsford's Chinese Herbal Medical Centre for over five years. Patricia Booth, 58, took the pills, bought at Chelmsford's Chinese Herbal Medical Centre, for over five years.
Now very sick, she has been providing evidence to the trial over video-link.Now very sick, she has been providing evidence to the trial over video-link.
Mrs Booth was in her mid-40s when she first sought help from the Chelmsford practitioner in 1997 for stubborn patches of spots on her face.Mrs Booth was in her mid-40s when she first sought help from the Chelmsford practitioner in 1997 for stubborn patches of spots on her face.
The Old Bailey heard the products had been advertised as "safe and natural".The Old Bailey heard the products had been advertised as "safe and natural".
But they contained a substance - aristolochic acid - which when she was first sold them, should only have been given under prescription, and which was later banned.But they contained a substance - aristolochic acid - which when she was first sold them, should only have been given under prescription, and which was later banned.
Traditionally this would be used maybe once or twice by a doctor who would know about its toxicity, but sometimes it might get into a formulation which is then used by somebody who doesn't have this wealth of experience Professor Monique Simmonds
The court heard Mrs Booth became ill months after she stopped taking the pills. She was diagnosed with kidney failure, and later with cancer of the urinary tract - both allegedly caused by the pills.The court heard Mrs Booth became ill months after she stopped taking the pills. She was diagnosed with kidney failure, and later with cancer of the urinary tract - both allegedly caused by the pills.
The grandmother, who used to manage a government office of up to 60 people, currently goes to hospital three times each week for dialysis.The grandmother, who used to manage a government office of up to 60 people, currently goes to hospital three times each week for dialysis.
She had told the court that she had been advised to take about 30 tiny brown tablets three times each day, returning to the shop every two weeks to buy three bottles at a time. She had told the court that she had been advised to take about 30 tiny brown tablets three times each day, returning to the shop every two weeks to buy up to three bottles at a time. She became friendly with Ms Wu, who was employed at the shop as a "Chinese doctor" until it closed in 2003.
Ms Wu, who had initially denied the charges, pleaded guilty to selling prescription only medicines without authorisation and to selling a banned substance.Ms Wu, who had initially denied the charges, pleaded guilty to selling prescription only medicines without authorisation and to selling a banned substance.
But an Old Bailey judge ruled that, as the sale of traditional Chinese medicines was totally unregulated, there was no evidence that she knew of the potential harm. A charge of "administering a noxious substance" so as to endanger life or inflict grievous bodily harm was therefore thrown out. But an Old Bailey judge ruled that, as the sale of traditional Chinese medicines was totally unregulated, there was no evidence that she knew of the potential harm. A charge of "administering a noxious substance so as to endanger life or inflict grievous bodily harm" was therefore thrown out.
The defendant is due to be sentenced later.The defendant is due to be sentenced later.
Regulating practitionersRegulating practitioners
The Register of Chinese Herbal Medicine, which represents more than 450 practitioners, said the case highlighted "the urgent need for the statutory regulation of herbal medicine in the UK".The Register of Chinese Herbal Medicine, which represents more than 450 practitioners, said the case highlighted "the urgent need for the statutory regulation of herbal medicine in the UK".
Statutory regulation would ensure that anyone who practises Chinese herbal medicine is suitably qualified and competent, and that all suppliers of herbal medicine are licensed The Register of Chinese Herbal Medicine
The Department of Health is currently considering recommendations for just such regulation, but it is unclear when such a framework will come into force.The Department of Health is currently considering recommendations for just such regulation, but it is unclear when such a framework will come into force.
Aristolochic acid was banned in July 1999, having previously been available as a prescription-only drug.Aristolochic acid was banned in July 1999, having previously been available as a prescription-only drug.
It is a common feature of Chinese medicine, but experts say experienced traditional practitioners would only ever use it sparingly.It is a common feature of Chinese medicine, but experts say experienced traditional practitioners would only ever use it sparingly.
There have been recorded incidents of the acid - which has been used for a host of conditions from procuring abortions to treating indigestion - causing kidney problems and cancer in the past.There have been recorded incidents of the acid - which has been used for a host of conditions from procuring abortions to treating indigestion - causing kidney problems and cancer in the past.
The most high-profile cases involved 100 incidents of renal disease among patients at a weight loss clinic in Belgium between 1990 and 1992. Most required either dialysis or transplantation, while a few died from consumption of the weight-reducing herb.The most high-profile cases involved 100 incidents of renal disease among patients at a weight loss clinic in Belgium between 1990 and 1992. Most required either dialysis or transplantation, while a few died from consumption of the weight-reducing herb.
Professor Monique Simmonds, head of biological interactions at Kew, who examined the pills sold to Mrs Booth, said one of the problems with this substance was that it was unclear at what dose it began to build up in the human body and cause health problems.Professor Monique Simmonds, head of biological interactions at Kew, who examined the pills sold to Mrs Booth, said one of the problems with this substance was that it was unclear at what dose it began to build up in the human body and cause health problems.
"Traditionally this would be used maybe once or twice by a doctor who would know about its toxicity, but sometimes it might get into a formulation which is then used by somebody who doesn't have this wealth of experience," she said."Traditionally this would be used maybe once or twice by a doctor who would know about its toxicity, but sometimes it might get into a formulation which is then used by somebody who doesn't have this wealth of experience," she said.
"Traditional Chinese medicine does have a place in the cocktail of medicine available to us, but is is really important we have some kind of regulation - not just in terms of the plant but also the practitioner.""Traditional Chinese medicine does have a place in the cocktail of medicine available to us, but is is really important we have some kind of regulation - not just in terms of the plant but also the practitioner."
Emma Farrant of the The Register of Chinese Herbal Medicine, said statutory regulation of all practitioners of herbal medicine "would ensure that anyone who practises Chinese herbal medicine is suitably qualified and competent."
"Statutory regulation would also ensure that the quality and supply of herbs is tightly controlled under arrangements proposed by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency."