By AVA TURNQUEST
Tribune Staff Reporter
aturnquest@tribunemedia.net
ANOTHER physician has come forward in support of former MUHC boss Dr Arthur Porter’s cancer diagnosis.
Thoracic surgeon Dr Duane Sands confirmed yesterday that he performed an operation on Dr Porter after he was diagnosed with metastatic lung cancer in The Bahamas.
Both Dr Porter and his wife, Pamela Mattock, are in a Panamanian jail as they await a court hearing over bail and their decision to fight extradition to Canada.
In an interview with The Tribune, Dr Sands maintained that his colleague was “innocent until proven guilty” as speculation over the veracity of the embattled physician’s health status mounts.
“He was diagnosed with metastatic lung cancer a number of months ago,” Dr Sands said.
“There is absolutely no question in my mind about that diagnosis, since I was the one that did that operation, and he has battled very aggressively and has done remarkably well considering.”
In the Bahamas, Dr Porter is managing director of the Cancer Centre of the Bahamas in Nassau.
The physician and cancer specialist faces six fraud-related charges stemming from the construction of the US$1.3 billion McGill University Health Centre in Montreal during his tenure as director.
Canadian police believe that Mrs Mattock might have conspired with her husband to launder millions of dollars, according to an arrest warrant obtained by The Tribune.
Dr Porter, 56, was transferred to Panama’s La Joya penitentiary on Friday, according to Panamanian officials, who said the oncologist takes oral chemotherapy and has an oxygen tank.
Mrs Mattock, 53, has been transferred to a women’s prison.
Dr Sands’ testimony follows a public pronouncement by controversial cancer expert Dr Karol Sikora, director of Medical Oncology at the Bahamas Cancer Centre.
Alongside numerous accolades for his academic work on cancer treatment, Dr. Sikora is also known for his contribution to another high-profile prognosis, the Lockerbie bomber.
Speaking to Canadian media on Monday, Dr Sikora said that Dr Porter had less than a year to live and contested reports by Panamanian officials that suggested Dr Porter was not as sick as he claimed.
In January, Dr Porter told The Tribune that he had late, stage-four cancer and was too ill to travel as allegations surrounding his business ventures, and tenure and resignation from the McGill University Health Centre heightened.
Quebec’s anti-corruption squad issued an international arrest warrant for the couple in February.
The Porters were arrested in Panama City during a connecting flight from Nassau to Trinidad and Tobago on May 25, according to Panamanian police.
Both the diagnosis of metastatic lung cancer, and the subsequent operation, were done in January, according to Dr Sands.
Dr Sands did not go into detail about the nature of the operation or how it was performed, stating that Dr Porter was entitled to his confidentiality.
In an interview with The Tribune yesterday, Dr Sands lamented the decorated physician’s fall from grace.
Dr Sands said: “In the court of public opinion we have forgotten that accused persons are innocent until proven guilty.
“Notwithstanding the accusations, they have lives, as well as his history is one of a very accomplished individual, both in the Bahamas, US and Canada.”
He added: “For him to have risen to the heights that he did to now be subjected to this speculative vilification is very unfortunate. If he is charged then fine, then he’s entitled to defend himself against those charges, but if he is not charged or is found innocent a lot of this speculative vilification cannot be undone.”
Although the cancer diagnosis was formally made in January, Dr Sands explained that it was possible Dr Porter had started exhibiting symptoms earlier on. Dr Sands said that he has been colleagues with Dr Porter since January 2013.
However, both physicians were part of a national task force on stem cell therapy in December. The government-appointed team, led by Dr Porter, presented recommendations on stem cell research and therapy.
Comments
TalRussell 11 years, 6 months ago
Many can argue with as great credibility that Comrade Arthur's rise to his power perch has always been questionable? Many more can say there is no argument that when he fell from his "political" rise he disappointed the many he had impressed under great deception leaving behind a trail of financial wreckage and unexplained contracts? Rather than run from Canada to the Bahamas he should have stayed and answered his accusers in a country well know for as fair a judicial system as there is?
ThisIsOurs 11 years, 6 months ago
Stem cell research another can of worms... There is a lot of controversy around this topic. I hope the administration has looked at it seriously and not been wooed by a new sexy term on the horizon. This area of research is heavily regulated in the US, please be careful of those who would want to take advantage of lax regulations in a developing country.
jackflash 11 years, 6 months ago
Don't worry -- Peter Nygard has a plan that the government is looking at. It's a deal they can't refuse...
USAhelp 11 years, 6 months ago
He is still a crook.
wave 11 years, 6 months ago
Once agian as stated:
It looks like it started with one contractor who blow the whistle on a few in city hall, then it lead to the engineering firm which lead to McGill and then Dr slimbucket! Leave your wife to take the fall, really. He got out because he know the chances of discovery were very good. It would also appear that his wife was cooking the books. No one know the connection between the contractor and his dirty deeds, or until proven in the court of law. On the same note, why would he say he was too sick to travel, yet where was he caught? Why did he not return to face the charges?
wave 11 years, 6 months ago
If in fact this dear doctor did operate, there would be records, staff, meds' and the list goes on. Easy to prove, right doc!
ThisIsOurs 11 years, 6 months ago
I don't think Dr Sands has anything to gain by lying about an operation, for the mere fact that as you say it is very easy to prove whether or not one took place. If Dr Porter does have cancer it's a worse sentence than the one facing him in court. I don't personally know anyone with cancer but I think they get treated for a few months, and during that time they are really weak, they take a break from treatment and may feel relatively ok, i.e. good enough to travel to Panama.
I think Dr Sands feels for him. He seems to be well respected for his knowledge, unfortunately his ethics are being questioned.
stillwaters 11 years, 6 months ago
Who gives a gram of spit which doctor operated on this crook!!!! Ask me if I care????
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