The College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia is currently pursuing a permanent injunction to stop the founder of a well-known online service specializing in personalized cancer care and precision oncology from evaluating patients and providing medical guidance. The legal action, filed in the B.C. Supreme Court, alleges that Alexander Rolland is breaching provincial health regulations by running Cancer Treatment Options and Management Inc.
The petition argues that Rolland’s websites and his YouTube channel, where he goes by “The Cancer Guy,” collectively suggest that he and his team are capable of performing activities restricted to regulated health professionals. It states that Rolland and his associates are engaged in practices falling within the realm of medicine, such as diagnosing patients, assessing their health, recommending treatments, managing therapies, preventing diseases, offering physical health advice, and designing therapeutic diets.
Although Rolland has not responded to the petition, Michelle Morand, the co-founder of Cancer Treatment Options and Management, emphasized in a conversation with CBC News that their company has not been formally served with the court documents. Morand insists that the company operates lawfully, emphasizing that they do not provide treatment or prescriptions but assist individuals in accessing healthcare options beyond what the conventional system offers. She refuted claims of treating or prescribing and highlighted their focus on diagnostics and advocating for patients to receive cutting-edge technologies and treatments from their healthcare providers.
Rolland’s academic background includes a Bachelor of Science from the University of Victoria and completion of PhD studies in medical genetics at the Terry Fox Laboratory in Vancouver, as mentioned in an online press kit. While the Terry Fox Laboratory is affiliated with the B.C. Cancer Research Institute, a spokesperson clarified that Rolland engaged in research activities at the laboratory during his time as a graduate student at the University of British Columbia, which does not confer degrees.
Described as a private company supporting mainstream cancer care, Cancer Treatment Options and Management aims to enhance the quality of care for cancer patients by bridging the gap between leading-edge research and frontline treatment. The company asserts that limitations within the healthcare system hinder doctors from accessing the latest advancements in diagnostics and treatments, impacting patient care. Their objective is to facilitate improved cancer care and eventually render their services unnecessary.
Contrary to the company’s claims, the College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia alleges that Rolland has exceeded the boundaries set by provincial medical regulations. The college asserts that Rolland plays a significant role in monitoring treatment plans, recommending treatments, and advising clients, referred to as patients in shared reports with doctors. The cost of services provided by Rolland and his team reportedly ranges from $2,000 to $20,000, with additional expenses for medications potentially amounting to thousands of dollars monthly, as per the college’s claims.
Moreover, the petition states that some consultants associated with Rolland are licensed to practice medicine in other jurisdictions but are not authorized to dispense medical advice in British Columbia without proper licensure. Affidavits from two B.C. Cancer medical oncologists support the petition, detailing instances where patients sought second opinions from Rolland’s company, leading to strained relationships between doctors and patients due to conflicting recommendations and concerns over treatment decisions.
The allegations raised in the petition remain unproven in court.
