Lori Fullbright, News On 6
BROKEN ARROW, Oklahoma -- A woman with a clinic in Broken Arrow says she will keep healing patients of cancer even though she's been ordered to pay $2.5 million for fraud.
News On 6 crime reporter Lori Fullbright first did a story on Dr. Antonella Carpenter last year, when she moved her practice to Oklahoma, right before the lawsuit was filed against her previous practice in Arkansas.
5/4/2010 Related Story: Broken Arrow Clinic Claims To Cure Cancer
Dr. Carpenter is not licensed to practice medicine in Oklahoma. She said she doesn't need one to offer laser therapy.
A breast cancer patient treated by Dr. Carpenter in Arkansas filed the suit and hopes other people will be forewarned before it's too late.
Therese Westphal said she had stage two breast cancer when she saw an ad for Lase Med, Inc, that claimed to kill cancer with laser technology.
She said Lase Med's medical director, Antonella Carpenter, told her after a week of treatments, she was cured and if she stayed away from doctors, she'd be fine. But, she wasn't fine. She is now stage four with a slim chance of survival.
She sued and this week, won at trial. Carpenter didn't even attend the trial.
Westphal's attorney says Carpenter had every opportunity to defend herself.
"As the judge noted, it's a civil case and you can't force someone to participate. We believe she didn't show up because she has no defense," Will Bond said.
Bob Babecka testified at the trial. He said his wife Cindy also got treatment from Carpenter and was declared cured, but instead, her cancer grew and Cindy died.
Another patient testified with a similar story. Her cancer is now stage four and inoperable.
The attorney hopes this verdict serves as a warning for others.
"There was testimony at trial that essentially what she's selling people is snake oil and people need to be aware of that," Bond said.
News On 6 crime reporter Lori Fullbright called Carpenter. She said the chemo and radiation the patients got after her treatment caused the problems, not the cancer.
Watch Dr. Carpenter's video "Put Up or Shut Up," which she says details her success.
She believes the trial was illegal and violated her civil rights.
Lori Fullbright, News On 6: "Are you still treating patients?"
Antonella Carpenter: "Look."
Lori Fullbright, News On 6: "Are you still treating patients? You are not licensed to practice medicine in Oklahoma."
Antonella Carpenter: "It has nothing to do with practicing medicine, that's another thing."
Lori Fullbright, News On 6: "So you're treating cancer but you're not practicing medicine?"
Antonella Carpenter: "I do not practice medicine."
Lori Fullbright, News On 6: "Are you still using your laser on patients in Oklahoma, that's my only question?"
Antonella Carpenter: "I offer LEISH therapy for people who want it."
Lori Fullbright, News On 6: "You are still offering LEISH therapy for people who want it."
Antonella Carpenter: "And, there's nothing wrong with that."
[See more of Lori's interview in the clips above]
As for not attending the trial, Carpenter said her lawyers were corrupt, she didn't have proper notice and she has piles of evidence that her treatment cures cancer and has plenty of satisfied patients.
Dr. Antonella Carpenter
Bob Babecka received treatment from Dr. Carpenter, but later died.
Lade Med Inc is located 500 North Poplar Ave # A in Broken Arrow.
