Vet’s COVID-19 cure claims put down

Dr+Garry+Bright+claims+to+have+developed+two+life-changing+technologies.+Photo+from+Maplestreet+Vet+via%C2%A0YouTube.

Dr Garry Bright claims to have developed two life-changing technologies. Photo from Maplestreet Vet via YouTube.

Experts are sceptical of claims made by a Coolum vet who says he has created a cure and diagnosis for coronavirus.

Maple Street Vet Clinic owner Dr Garry Bright said he has developed a modified laser pointer that can identify if someone has COVID-19.

However, researchers say there is no cure for the virus and warn medical practitioners from making unsubstantiated claims that could mislead the public.

Dr Bright said he has also made an app that can treat coronavirus patients.

“I can send a signal of the coronavirus into a laser, and I can shine a laser at a person and tell whether that person has got the coronavirus,” Dr Bright said.

“Within about a five-second period of shining the laser on the patient, I can tell whether they’ve got the virus.”

He said the laser pointer can even be pointed at just a picture of the patient, allowing a diagnosis to take place without them present.

“I can shine a laser at a photograph of the person and get a diagnosis,” he said.

“If you go and see the physics of it, you’ll see that the electromagnetic force works on an infinite distance, so it’s not dependent on local distance.”

However, University of the Sunshine Coast Clinical Trials Centre Investigator Dr Susan Thackwray is not so sure about Dr Bright’s claims.

“I do not feel that this is an accurate scientific assessment nor treatment of this disease,” she said.

“We are living in the midst of a pandemic, and we need to seek out accurate scientific tests and results with solid research behind them.”

Dr Bright said his app can cure coronavirus, as well as numerous other physical and mental illnesses.

The app, called Sound files, can allegedly be used to treat depression, muscle pains, herpes, and more.

Users select their illness from a pre-set list in the app and are then taken to a website where they can play a sound file.

Some sound files play for only 30 seconds, and others for as long as 30 minutes.

These sound files range from a faint white noise to a soft, thumping bass sound.

Dr Bright alleges that these noises are the “recorded versions of the substances of the periodic table”.

He claims that listening to the sound files can correct the “energy imbalance” of someone who is physically or mentally ill and helps them become healthy again.

When asked if there was medical research that supports the alleged science behind his inventions, Dr Bright said: “No, because the only research is by me.”

“This is my terminology, this is all my creation,” he said.

“With the current set of [medical] standards I have not been able to validate it.”

Dr Bright said his app was temporarily removed from the Google Play store for being classified as a scam by the tech giant, but it has since been republished.

Dr Bright said he has reached out to health officials about using his inventions on the front lines against coronavirus, but his pleas have been ignored.

“I’ve been speaking to the State Health Minister and the Federal Health Minister about this technology, and nothing,” he said.

Despite this, Dr Bright said he was optimistic about the future of his inventions.

“I do believe that in the future, every single doctor and surgeon will be using my technology,” he said.

Dr Thackwray said health professionals must act responsibly in times of such uncertainty.

She warned experts to reconsider the legitimacy of their claims before sharing them with a public who was desperate for answers.

“We need to be careful when we offer services such as tests and treatments that these have been scientifically studied, researched, and proven to work before we offer them to our community who have trust in us as health professionals,” she said.

“At this stage we still have no treatment for COVID-19.”

A statement by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) late last month shared the same message.

ACCC Deputy Chair Delia Rickard said the industry watchdog has received nearly 100 reports of coronavirus scams in Australia since the beginning of the year.

“Unfortunately, scammers are using the uncertainty around COVID-19, or coronavirus, to take advantage of people,” she said.

“There is no known vaccine or cure for coronavirus and a vaccine isn’t expected to be available for 18 months. Do not buy any products that claim to prevent or cure you of COVID-19.

“They simply don’t exist.”

The ACCC said anyone who thinks they have been scammed about coronavirus should contact their bank or financial institution immediately.

For more on coronavirus scams and how to spot them, listen to Liam Bland’s podcast ‘Top 5 scams to avoid during COVID-19’.

Common coronavirus scams according to the ACCC:

  • Fake online stores selling coronavirus vaccines or cures
  • Cold-calls from scammers who claim to be from organisations that can get you early access to your superannuation
  • Phishing emails and phone calls impersonating the World Health Organisation, government authorities or travel agents asking for your personal data
  • Fake online stores selling face masks and failing to deliver
  • Investment scams claiming coronavirus has created business opportunities