A man from California is currently out on bail after being accused of practicing medicine illegally. Vincent Gammill, 69, promised his cancer patients he could cure them with "alternative treatments," but he was prescribing expired medicines and a "bag of dirt," the San Francisco Gate reported.
Back in June, a female cancer patient, who was only identified as Fern, paid Gammil $2,000 for the treatment. She was given several Ziploc bags containing different medications that consisted of powders, capsules, oils in vials and Russian medicines with expired shelf-life dates. She was also given a bag filled with dirt.
"She began to get a burning sensation in her stomach and Gammill told the victim it was good her stomach was burning because that meant the ingredients were still active," the police said, via ABC News.
"I took one tablet in his office. He instructed me on how to mix it, told me it was very caustic. There was a frying pan that he gave me. He said, 'Don't let this get on the desk. It'll burn a hole through the desk,'" revealed Fern in another ABC report. "He robbed me of my money, of my time. It was three days driving up, I was away from my children and my family," she said.
Gammill was eventually arrested and the police did a search of his home, where they found 25,000 prescription medicines, which originated from Russia and Mexico. They also found a laboratory equipment and bottles which were marked as "poison."
Gammill was charged with multiple cases that included dependent adult abuse, furnishing dangerous drugs without a license and practicing medicine without a license, the report further said.
He is currently on a $10,000 bail with a court appearance set for Aug. 31.
The victim said she found out about Gammill after seeing his website several years ago and sought his treatment as a last resort. "I was very upset that there was somebody who's preying on cancer victims who are desperate to live." Fern, who is in her 50s, has been battling cancer for seven years.
The police are asking the public for any more leads from other possible victims to call (805) 383-8700 for Southern California residents and (925) 313-2600 for Northern California residents.
