New Brunswick's Chief Medical Officer of Health says an accumulating body of evidence suggests the patients may not actually have a mystery condition, but rather, could be experiencing diagnosable illnesses.Evan Vucci/The Associated Press
A New Brunswick investigation found no environmental link to neurological illness reported by hundreds of patients of a neurologist, says a report released Friday by the province’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, Yves Léger.
An earlier provincial investigation found no evidence of a shared common illness, but this latest report was to analyze concerns raised by New Brunswick neurologist Alier Marrero, who reported a growing number of patients with undiagnosed neurological illness in addition to having high levels of herbicides or metals in their bodies.
Dr. Léger said the findings do not suggest that the toxins were present at levels that could have contributed to neurological illness experienced by most patients.
Moreover, he said an accumulating body of evidence suggests these patients may not actually have a mystery condition, but rather, could be experiencing diagnosable illnesses.
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“At the end of the day, these are patients that are suffering, that are ill, and to do so without having a diagnosis and proper treatment and care plan is very concerning,” Dr. Léger said during a press conference.
“I’m hopeful that patients will see there is mounting evidence to suggest that they probably have something that can be diagnosed and therefore be willing and want to participate in that second independent assessment.”
The 98-page report, which was reviewed by the Public Health Agency of Canada, recommended a “formal, robust and comprehensive process” that ensures a second clinical assessment is readily available to patients.
It also recommended a requirement for any patient with a suspected neurological syndrome of unknown cause be formally reviewed and agreed upon by two specialists before further notifications to the province’s Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health.
The third recommendation was for test results showing high levels of toxins be repeated.
The investigation, which included data from 222 patients, is the latest development in a years-long quest for answers about a variety of neurological symptoms experienced by patients of Dr. Marrero. He reported the first cases in 2020.
Dr. Alier Marrero, pictured in 2023, reported the first cases of neurological illness in 2020.Chris Donovan/The Globe and Mail
The report found that 24 of those patients have died. Autopsies revealed explanations for their symptoms such as Alzheimer’s disease, Lewy body dementia and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.
The current investigation reviewed nine additional autopsy reports. “No unknown or new brain diseases were found,” the report said.
The substances examined in the study include herbicides such as glyphosate (widely used in forestry and agriculture), their metabolites and metals (aluminum, arsenic, mercury and others).
During the press conference, Dr. Léger pointed out that while the investigation doesn’t get to the bottom of what’s affecting patients, the recommendations are meant to help them get the answers that they “sorely need and deserve.”
Dr. Léger said the report has been shared with Dr. Marrero’s employer, Vitalité Health Network, and the College of Physicians and Surgeons of New Brunswick. In response to a reporter’s question, he added that issues of competence are “very important” and should be directed at the two organizations.
Dr. Marrero did not respond to a request for comment.
Vitalité did not provide a response by deadline.
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Laurie Potter, chief executive and registrar of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of New Brunswick, said it plans to carefully review the report and its recommendations to determine whether any further action is required.
The report also criticized how mainstream media around the world have reported on this story, “for perpetuating a clear and unquestioned narrative that has only helped to fuel distrust in public institutions that have the wellbeing of patients and all New Brunswickers at heart.”
“Significant harms have likely occurred from the widespread dissemination of these concerns without first ensuring that proper validation was completed,” it said.
Patient advocates, many of whom have fiercely defended Dr. Marrero, disagreed with the methodology and findings of the study.
One such advocate, Stacie Quigley Cormier, said she believes the investigation is an attempt to discredit Dr. Marrero. She wrote in a statement that it excluded patient data that could signal clustering and environmental concerns, and discredited labs as trying to nullify the data. However, she said she still has hope that the province’s request for the Public Health Agency of Canada to further review the data will reveal more accurate information.
Katherine Lanteigne, another advocate, claimed the investigation cherry-picked data and should have been conducted by a panel of independent neuroscientists and toxicologists.
“Instead, what has been supplanted is a piecemeal non response intent at ensuring patients’ files are sequestered under the control of Dr. Léger coupled with a media strategy to witch hunt a physician who is asking for scientific support,” she wrote in an e-mail to Premier Susan Holt and Health Minister John Dornan that was shared with The Globe.
In a statement, Dr. Dornan said his government’s primary concern has been and continues to be the affected patients. He said he and Ms. Holt recently met with patients to discuss the report, its recommendations and next steps.
“Moving forward,” he said, “We will work with our partners in the health care system to ensure patients are able to access the care they need.”
Dr. Dornan said the province will review PHAC’s report once it’s available. Dr. Léger said there is no timeline yet for when it will be ready.