Naturopathy refers to a form of alternative medicine wherein nature-based treatments are used to heal the body. Practices like acupuncture, herbal massages, and nutritional counseling fall under its purview. However, it must be noted that many of the techniques in naturopathy actually stem from colloquial and folk wisdom, and are not necessarily based on scientific evidence. This article takes a look at a self-proclaimed naturopathic doctor whose unconventional practices actually had fatal consequences.His story has been covered in Oxygens License to Kill: Death By Miracle Cure.

It all goes back to 2003. Sean Flanagan, who was suffering from Ewings sarcoma, was being treated by Brian OConnell. Chemotherapy stopped having an effect on Seans cancer, and so his parents sought alternative medicine as a last resort. OConnell was a self-proclaimed naturopathic doctor who operated out of Wheat Ridge, Colorado. Laura and Dave Flanagan, Seans parents, recalled OConnell saying, No Irish kid is going to die on my watch. However, a few days later, that is exactly what happened.

In December of 2003, OConnell began treating the 19-year-old cancer patient with photoluminescence, which was a form of energy medicine that made use of light waves to eradicate the disease. What the supposed healer did was that he exposed a vial of Seans blood to the light, mixed it with hydrogen peroxide, and injected it back into his patients body. Laura said, We thought he was a physician, a pharmacist. We thought he had all these types of degrees. Brian OConnell told us that this would help him, so we were just grasping at straws hoping this was going to be the answer.

Two days after this, Sean was rushed to the hospital due to lower oxygen levels in his system. But six days later, Brian OConnell carried out the procedure again. Sean passed away, months before his doctors said he would. These were his harrowing last words No more. God, please, no more. This was not an exclusive case by any means, unfortunately.

Another cancer patient, 45-year-old Rory Gallegos, was given a black salve by OConnell and was told to rub it on his skin. Rory was a patient of liver and colon cancer, and apparently, the salve was to bring the tumors to the surface so that they could be removed through lesions. The third case was that of Gladys, the wife of retired Denver police lieutenant, Jimmie Shoemaker.The Flanagans paid OConnell $7000 for the treatments, whereas the then 85-year-old Jimmie paid him $17,000, saying, I was losing my wife money meant nothing to me. I would have done anything.

Brian OConnell had been lying about his qualifications all this time. Firstly, he was practicing medicine without a license or a medical degree.Secondly, The Flanagans found out about OConnell through a website where he had presented misleading information about his background and experience in medicine. In fact, he even falsely referred to himself as chief of internal medicine, and provided a long list of letters, resumes, and website entries.David Flannagan said, The certification and accreditations were plastered all over his wall. There wasnt a bare spot. Everything seemed legit.Brians only training that pertained to healing was from the Herbal Healer Academy, which is a non-accredited correspondence school in Arkansas. One of the certificates on OConnells wall of credentials was from the American Naturopathic Medical Association (ANMA), which seems to be more of amail-order health-care qualification service than an actual organization.

In 2005, the Flanagan family reportedly sued the untrained holistic healer, and the case was settled for an undisclosed sum.In 2006, a 38-year-old Brian OConnell pleaded guilty to criminally negligent homicide, practicing medicine without a license, assault, theft, and perjury. Before he was sentenced, he said, When someone passes away, I take it very personally. I didnt get into natural healing for money or prestige.For the aforementioned charges, Brianwas given a 13-year sentence. District Court Judge Margie Enquist said, People came to you in the most desperate situation and you took advantage of them. According to a petition filed on Care2, he is at the Huerfano County Correctional Center in Walsenburg, Colorado.

Read More:Where Is Dr. James Jim Kauffman Now?

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Brian O'Connell Now: Where is Naturopathic Healer Today? Is He in Jail? - The Cinemaholic