Police probe 3 deaths in German natural medicine clinic

German and Dutch police are investigating the deaths of three people who had been treated in an alternative medicine cancer clinic, officials said Thursday.

A Dutch man and woman, aged 55 and 43, along with a Belgian woman, 55, have died since being treated late last month at the Klaus Ross clinic in the German town of Bruggen-Bracht just over the border with the Netherlands.

Two other Dutch women are being treated in hospital and German prosecutors in the town of Moenchengladbach have urged other patients showing any symptoms to "urgently seek medical advice."

Dutch police, who are supporting the inquiry, appealed for information from other patients, as newspapers reported the clinic had been using an experimental transfusion.

Concern was first raised when a 43-year-old Dutch woman with breast cancer complained of headaches and became confused after being treated at the clinic on July 25.

She later lost the ability to speak, and died on July 30 although the "cause of her death remains unclear," the German prosecutors said in a statement earlier this week.

Dutch police said Thursday many Dutch people are known to have visited the clinic and while "it is not yet known exactly what happened, there is a health risk to patients who have undergone treatment at this clinic."

The Klaus Ross clinic said in an English statement on its website that it had heard "one of our patients unexpectedly has passed away."

"We regret this seriously and are in shock as we heard the news. Our thoughts and deep condolences are with her family, friends and loved ones."

The clinic vowed to cooperate with the police investigation, but added "we regret the suspicion set in the media that alternative medicine, and our clinic especially, could be held responsible."

"Alternative medicine is always an extra tool to battle diseases," and the clinic said it always advised patients to be monitored by their own doctors.

© 2016 AFP