Unlicensed stem cell doctor slapped with charges over patient's death

Charges of syndicated estafa, illegal medical practice and murder were filed on Tuesday against Dr. Zoharina Antonia Pedrera Carandang, also known as Dr. Antonia Carandang-Park, for practicing stem cell therapy on 23-year-old cancer patient Katherine Kate Tan. The treatment was alleged to have caused the Tan's death.

The charges were filed by Kate's father Bernard Tan before the Tagaytay Municipal Fiscal's Office. Aside from Carandang, owner and operator of Tagaytay-based Green & Young Health and Wellness Center, also charged were Joy Dimaranan, Estrella Maranan, Bebot Maranan and several other employees of the wellness center.

Tan also filed on Tuesday a separate administrative complaint against Park before Tagaytay's Office of the City Administrator, GMA News TV's Quick Response Team (QRT) reported.

According to the City Administrator's Office, Park had, in the past, applied for a permit to operate a medical clinic but was denied for failing to present the necessary documents, such as a Department of Health (DOH) certification.

Park, was, however, granted a permit to operate a massage clinic in 2012.

A caretaker at the wellness center, who received the copy of the criminal and administrative complaints, said Park had left the clinic Tuesday morning.

The Fiscal's Office also sent a letter to Park requiring her to respond to the complaint within two days, otherwise an investigation based only on the evidence presented by the Tans would be pursued.

The Office of the City Administrator also prohibited the wellness clinic from operating until a reply to the administrative complaint was filed.

Alternative treatment

In a separate complaint filed last month before the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Tan alleged that Park was not licensed by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) to practice medicine in the Philippines.

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Unlicensed stem cell doctor slapped with charges over patient's death