John Noseworthy, MD, president and CEO of Rochester, Minn.-based Mayo Clinic, defends the system's investment in two proton beam therapy facilities in a Star Tribune report.
Dr. Noseworthy's comments are in response to an op-ed article in the New York Times that suggested proton beam therapy's clinical benefits are unproven and that Mayo was motivated by financial ambition to build the costly technology.
In his response, Dr. Noseworthy contends that Mayo carefully researched proton beam therapy and found evidence for its effectiveness and that its motivations for building the facilities are strictly based on patient care.
"As a not-for-profit institution, we are motivated by the best interests of our patients, not 'profit' or competitiveness," Dr. Noseworthy wrote. "We chose to make this investment to ensure that our patients have access to proven, effective, safe treatment for serious illnesses."
Dr. Noseworthy also said Mayo will track the outcomes from proton beam therapy and participate in clinical trials to compare this treatment to conventional therapy.
Mayo Clinic Investing $370M on Experimental Cancer Treatment Centers
Barnes-Jewish Hospital Installs First-of-its-Kind Proton Accelerator
Dr. Noseworthy's comments are in response to an op-ed article in the New York Times that suggested proton beam therapy's clinical benefits are unproven and that Mayo was motivated by financial ambition to build the costly technology.
In his response, Dr. Noseworthy contends that Mayo carefully researched proton beam therapy and found evidence for its effectiveness and that its motivations for building the facilities are strictly based on patient care.
"As a not-for-profit institution, we are motivated by the best interests of our patients, not 'profit' or competitiveness," Dr. Noseworthy wrote. "We chose to make this investment to ensure that our patients have access to proven, effective, safe treatment for serious illnesses."
Dr. Noseworthy also said Mayo will track the outcomes from proton beam therapy and participate in clinical trials to compare this treatment to conventional therapy.
Related Articles on Proton Beam Therapy:
Mayo Clinic in Phoenix Breaks Ground on $182M Proton Therapy Cancer CenterMayo Clinic Investing $370M on Experimental Cancer Treatment Centers
Barnes-Jewish Hospital Installs First-of-its-Kind Proton Accelerator