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Andreas Kalcker

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Andreas Ludwig Kalcker is a German national residing in Switzerland who promotes an alternative medicine treatment he calls "CDS" through his website, written publications, and social media.[1] Chlorine dioxide used in this manner is also known as the Miracle Mineral Solution (MMS).[1] Before moving to Switzerland, Kalcker lived in Spain for several years.[2]

Both the Colegio Oficial de Médicos de Alicante (COMA) of Spain and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the United States warn consumption of MMS can cause abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, intoxication or kidney failure.[3][4]

Kalcker has advertised the product as a definitive cure for cancer, AIDS, autism, hepatitis, diabetes, arthritis and all kinds of diseases,[5] as well as the perfect antioxidant.[6] Kalcker has been investigated, sued and arrested for this reason.

In 2010, Spanish Authorities banned MMS for human consumption, considering it to be a fraudulent treatment.[6] It is only available for industrial use.[3]

On 24 October 2012 Kalcker was invited to speak about his "Miracle Cure" at a conference, and was arrested in Ibiza by agents of the Spanish Civil Guard Anti-Drug and Organized Crime Team for violating Spanish public health protection laws for promoting his treatment.[6][3]

In 2018, the Official College of Doctors of Alicante (COMA in Spanish) called for a boycott of a Kalcker event to promote MMS, warning of the danger of consuming the substance.[3] COMA issued a statement that MMS "is nothing more than industrial bleach diluted to 28% and mixed with citric acid", whose ingestion can produce adverse effects.[3] The event, planned to be held in San Juan, was cancelled by the hotel,[3]

After Kalcker sued the president of the COMA for warning about the event, María Isabel Moya, the Provincial Court of Alicante ratified that there was no criminal infraction for her statements, considering that "the president acted in the exercise of her competences and in her duty to protect the health of the general public".[7]

In 2019, the Spanish Attorney General started an investigation in which Kalcker was charged for crime against public health,[8][9][5] having as its origin a complaint filed in October 2018 by the Ministry of Health, which warned of the "publication and sale" through the Internet of sodium chlorite.[5]

In August 2020, a five year old boy died in Argentina, "of multiple organ failure consistent with chlorine dioxide poisoning."[10] An investigation was opened into the death of the child as well as additional deaths associated with the treatment.[11] Following a 7 month investigation by the Unidad Fiscal para la Investigación de Delitos contra el Medio Ambiente (UFIMA), Kalcker has been charged with "illegal practice of the medical profession and selling fake medicines."[10]

In 2021 an Argentine lawyer filed a lawsuit against Kalcker following the death of a five-year-old boy in Neuquén Province who ingested chlorine dioxide, a chemical compound promoted by Kalcker as a cure for COVID-19.[12][2] The lawyer filed the complaint before the Public Prosecutor's Office of Argentina for the commission of crimes against public health, arguing that the accused in a "completely fraudulent and illegal manner are selling the substance in question, putting in critical danger an innumerable number of Argentine compatriots".[2]

References

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  1. ^ a b Porter, Tom (June 4, 2021). "A dangerous movement hyping toxic bleach as a 'miracle cure' is more powerful than ever after exploiting the pandemic in Latin America".
  2. ^ a b c "Andreas Kalcker, "gurú" del dióxido de cloro, denunciado en Argentina por muerte de niño". Montevideo Portal (in Spanish). Retrieved 2021-12-18.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Sánchez, Manrique C. (2018-07-03). "El falso medicamento que querían promocionar en Alicante" (in Spanish). El País. ISSN 1134-6582. Retrieved 2021-12-18.
  4. ^ Scutti, Susan (August 15, 2019). "Taking 'Miracle' solution as cure for autism or cancer is the 'same as drinking bleach,' FDA says".
  5. ^ a b c Güell, Oriol (2019-02-20). "La Fiscalía investiga a dos famosos curanderos por promover la lejía contra el sida y el cáncer" (in Spanish). El País. ISSN 1134-6582. Retrieved 2021-12-18.
  6. ^ a b c "Detenido en Eivissa el gurú alemán de la medicina alternativa por divulgar pócimas contra el cáncer y el SIDA". Noudiari. 2012-12-04. Retrieved 2021-12-18.
  7. ^ "La Justicia desestima la demanda de Andreas Kalcker contra la presidenta del COMA". Redacción Médica (in Spanish). Retrieved 2021-12-18.
  8. ^ Prieto, Ana (2021-12-06). "Las vacunas contra el covid-19 han demostrado eficacia, mientras que el dióxido de cloro no". AFP. Retrieved 2021-12-18.
  9. ^ Prieto, Ana (2020-05-19). "El dióxido de cloro es una sustancia potencialmente tóxica que no aporta oxígeno al cuerpo humano". AFP. Retrieved 2021-12-18.
  10. ^ a b Porter, Tom. "A leader of a movement touting toxic bleach as a 'miracle' COVID-19 cure has been charged following a 5-year-old boy's death".
  11. ^ White, Patricia (January 1, 2021). "Denunciaron al "descubridor" del dióxido de cloro como "solución milagrosa" contra el COVID y a quienes lo vendían". Infobae.
  12. ^ CHEQUEA, COCUYO (2020-09-01). "¿El dióxido de cloro o la SMM pueden curar el COVID-19?". Efecto Cocuyo. Retrieved 2021-12-18.
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