Dead after 13 days of detox in granny flat

Dead after 13 days of detox in granny flat

David King | September 06, 2007


VECKO Krsteski was a sick man. He had chronic kidney disease and needed daily dialysis and medication.


http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,22370553-5006784,00.html


So when he saw an advertisement for doctor and naturopath Jeffrey Dummett that said "Need a cure?" he jumped at the chance to be treated.

The NSW Supreme Court heard yesterday Krsteski, 37, had paid $3000 to enter a live-in detoxification program in the granny flat of Mr Dummett's home in Oatley, in Sydney's south, on February 13, 2002.

As part of the program he allegedly stopped dialysis and medication and died in that unit 13 days later from heart failure. He had lost 11kg in 10 days.

Mr Dummett went on trial yesterday for Krsteski's manslaughter on the grounds of gross criminal negligence.

Crown prosecutor Paul Leask told the jury Mr Dummett was not a qualified medical doctor, nor a qualified naturopath, and had failed to provide a duty of care for his patient.

"The crown case is the accused held himself out as a doctor and qualified naturopath, and was grossly negligent because of the things he did and/or the things he did not do while Vecko Krsteski was under his care," Mr Leask said.

"The crown case is the accused filled Vecko with false hope for profit."

Mr Dummett's defence barrister John Doris said a post-mortem examination revealed Krsteski had a previously undiagnosed heart disease.

The forensic pathologist who examined the body, Peter Bradhurst, had found Krsteski's heart was "severely diseased", Mr Doris said.

It was the forensic pathologist's opinion that the heart disease would have claimed Krsteski's life at a relatively young age, he said.

Mr Leask told the court Krsteski had shown Mr Dummett his medical history before entering the detox.

The jury heard Mr Dummett had spoken to police after Krsteski was found dead in his granny flat and had espoused the eight "laws of health".

The eight laws were: nutrition, exercise, water, sunshine, temperance, air, rest and trust in a divine power.

The trial continues.


http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,22370553-5006784,00.html
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