Without the Di Bella therapy I am sentenced to death

To Flora Nardelli, ill with cancer, the Court denies the refunds and obliges her to pay 113 mila euro to the ASL.

Bologna, March 13, 2013 - Mrs. Nardelli, when and how have you discovered you were ill?

«In 2000, while doing exams at the Hematology Department of St. Orsola. The verdict was multiple myeloma, a cancer that in my case started from the shoulder blade. I have immediately made chemotherapy and after, autologous bone marrow transplantation. And in 2004 came the second blow: The PET (Positron Emission Tomography, a special examination of nuclear medicine, ed) showed a lung cancer, so I had an operation immediately!».

How did you get to the Di Bella therapy?

«In 2006, the situation did not improve. I was tired, I had labyrinthitis, I felt pain, I could not work. I redid the PET and it was found that the lesions to the bones had spread. The disease had spread. So I asked for a medical examination with a specialist, paying a private visit. He said, 'I studied your medical record and I will let you know in three days'. After eight years I'm still waiting...! Meanwhile, an Otolaryngologist which I got in contact with after a small incident, told me about the Di Bella Multitherapy. And so I went to the medical office of Giuseppe Di Bella, in Via Marconi (Bologna)».

And what happened?

«He studied my case and prepared the treatment, so I said to myself: 'Let's try!».

Has the situation improved?

«After 3-4 months I redid the PET and the lesions had disappeared. Since then, the disease first has regressed, then stopped{jumi [jumi/Player.html]}. Now, I'm fine, I started to work in my place, which is unfortunately in Ferrara and it was damaged by the earthquake. However, the latest PET, a month ago, was successful!».

This brings us to the court issue?

«Yes, of course. Until mid 2007 I paid the treatment, with my sister's help. Then I sued the National Health Service [ Local Health Authority - AUSL Bologna - Italy ] to have it for free, and we ended up in court. In 2008, the first judge, from the Work section, has agreed with us in emergency measure, stating that I was entitled to the care. Then the same judge, in 2009, has agreed with us again in the first grade trial, stating that the National Health Service [ Local Health Authority - AUSL Bologna - Italy ] must reimburse the amount paid out of my pocket, about 30 thousand euro. And so far I had the therapy paid».

Then came the call...

«Yes, the blow. In February, the judges reversed the judgment, giving reason to the National Health Service [ Local Health Authority - AUSL Bologna - Italy ]. The therapy will be no longer paid and I'll have to reimburse 113 thousand euro. For me this is a death sentence. Without the Di Bella Multitherapy the disease will return and I will be dead. A judge had agreed with me, another one gives me blame. This is my life and i want to be free to treat myself. Now I'm fine and they want to take away my care. I have no money to pay for it. This is murder!».

Trancripted by: Alina Mina Leonard

Read here the original article (Italian language) by journalist Gilberto Dondi.