A practitioner from Nice was struck off the Order of Physicians of Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur and Corsica and several of his colleagues suspended for having practiced so-called “percutaneous hydrotomy” care, a practice not scientifically recognized, according to a press release from the disciplinary chamber of first instance, this Thursday.
The “doctor from Nice presenting himself as the founder” of percutaneous hydrotomy, “was the subject of radiation”, according to the text. The latter does not mention his name, but the displayed and claimed creator of percutaneous hydrotomy is Dr. Bernard Guez.
Physiological serum enriched with several elements
Nine “doctors who actually practiced” this technique “were sanctioned with a temporary ban on practicing medicine, for a period ranging from three months (including two months suspended) to three years (including two years suspended)” , added the disciplinary chamber. Finally, 31 doctors received penalties ranging from reprimand to warning, for having appeared in the directory of the International Society of Percutaneous Hydrotomy founded by Dr. Guez.
The technique consists of practicing subcutaneous injections of physiological saline enriched with several elements with large dilutions. According to its promoters, it aims to relieve the pain of people suffering from recurrent pain (osteoarthritis, low back pain, migraines, etc.). Structures put in place by Dr. Guez made it possible to sell paid training and deliver the necessary products. In May, twelve nurses had already been sanctioned with penalties by their National Order for having delivered this type of care.
Increasingly frequent “therapeutic abuses”
According to the Disciplinary Chamber of the Order of Physicians, “the available scientific studies do not provide any demonstration of the therapeutic efficacy of the technique known as percutaneous hydrotomy”. “The adverse effects of this technique are not documented,” she adds. In total, 51 doctors from several French regions were concerned by this disciplinary procedure, entrusted entirely to the Paca-Corsica region of the Order to avoid the scattering of decisions.
On Tuesday, the Order of Physicians denounced in a report the increasingly frequent “therapeutic excesses” of “unconventional care practices”. The Ministries of Health and the Interior met this week for the first time the new support committee for the supervision of non-conventional health practices, which will bring together health authorities such as the Medicines Agency, the Miviludes or the collective No Fake Med.