SANTO DOMINGO – Prominent journalist Nuria Piera has launched a public critique against Ernesto Fadul, a practitioner claiming to cure autism through scientifically unvalidated treatments. The controversy centers on medical ethics, evidence-based practice, and the potential exploitation of vulnerable families.
Piera clarified that the core issue transcends personal disputes, focusing instead on the absence of peer-reviewed research supporting Fadul’s methods. She highlighted that his treatment protocol—reportedly involving vitamin B complexes and amino acids—lacks clinical validation, noting that professional credentials cannot substitute for rigorous scientific trials.
Concerns have been amplified by testimonies from U.S. specialists who observed a rising trend of families seeking Fadul’s services. Piera revealed that supplements provided under his care, identified as common vitamin compounds, are being sold for $500 to $2,000—far exceeding pharmacy prices—while allegedly lacking proper labeling or health registrations.
The program featured an emotional account from Adriano Suárez, an Arizona father who traveled to Santiago with his 9-year-old autistic daughter. He described a brief evaluation in substandard clinical conditions and paid $525 for a three-month treatment. Contrary to promises, his daughter experienced developmental regression. Suárez criticized the uniform medication approach for all patients and urged the Ministry of Public Health to investigate.
Piera concluded by urging health authorities to mandate scientific review of these claims, emphasizing that unproven treatments risk wasting critical developmental windows. Despite Fadul’s defense of his altruistic intentions, public debate intensifies over regulatory oversight and patient safety.