Deidre Karen Brophy to contest charges brought by ombudsman over black salve, thermal imaging prohibition order

A woman who is prohibited from providing health services, including using thermal imaging on people and manufacturing and selling “black salve” will contest charges of breaching a Health Ombudsman order, a court has heard.

A WOMAN who is prohibited from providing health services, including using thermal imaging on people and manufacturing and selling “black salve” will contest charges of breaching a Health Ombudsman order, a court has heard.

According to the Queensland Health Ombudsman website, Deidre Brophy is currently prohibited from providing any health service in a clinical or non-clinical capacity, paid or otherwise.

The Ombudsman makes special mention that in Ms Brophy’s case, providing a health service includes but is not limited to the use of thermal imaging on persons, including in the diagnosis of any illness, the manufacture, supply and sale of black salve or any other product derived from, or having similar ingredients to black salve, the provision of advice on the use, promotion or application of black salve and similar products, and any naturopathy service.

The 66-year-old is charged with five counts of contravening an interim prohibition order or corresponding interstate interim order.

Black salve is a controversial alternative skin cancer treatment.

After an earlier mention in November 2021 where Ms Brophy did not answer phone calls from the courthouse, the matter was set down for sentence, the court heard.

On Friday, Magistrate Bevan Hughes asked Ms Brophy if she was entering pleas of guilty to all five charges.

“No,” Ms Brophy said.

“So why are we here then today Ms Brophy?” Mr Hughes asked.

“I’ve got no idea,” she replied.

Barrister Chris Templeton, acting for the Health Ombudsman, explained how as Ms Brophy had not answered phone calls when the matter was last before the court, it was listed for sentence on the assumption she would not turn up.

“Given her obvious indication that she does not wish to enter a plea of guilty, it seems quite clear to me that obviously we can’t proceed today,” Mr Templeton said.

Ms Brophy told the court she had blocked her phone from receiving non-caller ID phone calls because she was being “harassed by a woman on a no caller ID”.

Mr Hughes adjourned the matter to February 16 and urged Ms Brophy to get some legal advice.

Originally published as Deidre Karen Brophy to contest charges brought by ombudsman over black salve, thermal imaging prohibition order