$1,137,000 and counting for an apparent hope based cure based on what seems to be fraud. Belle Gibson is an opportunist and a wealthier one at that. The question is – is her lifestyle app “The Whole Pantry” for real? Maybe the better question is – Belle Gibson and The Whole Pantry – Ethical or not?
Not long ago, a very dear friend of mine succumbed to brain cancer. He was a brilliant and compassionate man. In the end, he struggled one last time to convey his hopes and wishes for me; then he slipped into the inevitable coma. He was the bravest person I ever knew and I had the honor to eulogize him.
We would all like to help those in our lives who are “terminal” and too young. In fact, we would do almost anything for them. Though it is tempting to take swipes at the “big, bad medical profession,” I have never truly met a research scientist who was devoid of all compassion and who had a secret cure tucked away reserved for only friends and family. On the other hand, I have encountered health and fitness gurus who were opportunists and angry scam artists.
Who is Belle Gibson?
There is an author named Belle Gibson who is stirring up quite an ethical kettle of emotion. In an article by Bruna Nessif for eonline (March 14, 2015) entitled: Wellness Guru Belle Gibson Accused of Faking Cancer Battle to Promote Her Lifestyle App and Book,” we are introduced to yet another opportunist who may be guilty of fraud.
“Loading…Belle Gibson launched a recipe and lifestyle app called The Whole Pantry, and a debut book in Australia, based on her backstory that she had treated her terminal brain cancer through diet and lifestyle alone.
According to The Guardian (an Australian newspaper), her story of “treating” cancer without conventional medical treatment was used to market the book…But, here’s the twist—the publisher admits to never confirming her illness, and even Gibson has said that she may have been misdiagnosed.”
The book is basically a glorified recipe book and as for Gibson’s illness:
Gibson reportedly said she had been “diagnosed with cancers of the liver, kidney, uterus, spleen and blood…she confessed that those cancers may have been misdiagnosed by a German magnetic therapy ‘doctor,’ who she refused to name.”
I have no idea what a magnetic therapy doctor does, but until I am convinced otherwise, I will lump this exotic specialty in with snake oil salesmen and a collection of many other con artists.
Gibson sells an app (naturally) based on her book and it goes for $3.79 per download; to date 300,000 people have downloaded it and some have reputedly given up their conventional cancer therapies to cook up recipes that have no known medical efficacy. Oh yes, Gibson also promised to give the money she raised from the app and her book sales to charity.
“Gibson admitting this week it [The Whole Pantry] had ‘cashflow problems,’ and that the donations were never made.”
Desperate times and desperate measures
Who in this world would not want to help themselves? Who in this world would not want to help someone else with cancer?
Those questions are self-evident, and Gibson and her magnetic therapy physician know it. Fortunately, as the questions have begun to mount, the intended U.S. publisher of The Whole Pantry has pulled out until the author has a chance to explain herself. So far, she hasn’t.
There is talk that app was “being developed as one of the first apps for the Apple Watch.” There is bitter irony there as well. Steve Jobs died of an incurable cancer. With his immense wealth and influence even he could not stop the disease.
I completely understand the need to try; the desire to go down alternative roads and the tendency that many of us would have to find anyone with a song and a dance that claims a cancer cure. However anyone making a claim had better darn well be upfront about what they are offering.
If I take a completely dispassionate view of this case, at every turn I see an opportunist preying on the sadness and fears of others. It appears a situation constructed of lies, and perpetrated by an entourage of quacks, marketers, app developers, publishers and the media.
If a patient cares to eat one of Gibson’s recipes, so be it, but if there is any hope for remission; if there is any chance of recovery by continuing with conventional treatment it would be absolutely foolhardy to abandon that regimen.
Ethically, I find these kinds of situations to be at among the lowest rungs of responsible behavior. Please be very wary of self-appointed gurus who are devoid of any training or critical thinking. In my opinion, those who attempt to cure in this manner are the least compassionate healers in the entire system.