Dutch natural healer gets 8 years for death of Swedish woman

Natural healer Sara G. from Kockengen in Urecht was sentenced to eight years in prison for manslaughter on Wednesday. The 59-year-old woman treated a Swedish woman with the controversial rehabilitation drug ibogaine, after which the Swedish woman died. The Public Prosecutor demanded 10 years in prison against G., NOS reports.

The Swedish woman came to the Netherlands to seek help for her drug addiction. She stayed in G.'s bed and breakfast, where she died in February 2017. According to the Prosecutor, G. did not properly inform the woman about the risks of using the drug.

Ibogaine is extracted from the bark of the root of the Taberanthe iboga. It is said to reduce withdrawal symptoms and the desire for drugs.

G. denied that she ever treated the woman. According to her lawyer, it is possible that the woman got hold of the Ibogaine herself, or received it from G.'s assistant. But the court did not believe this story.

In 2015 G. was also convicted for inflicting health damage on a patient. Between 2006 and 2011 she treated hundreds of addicts with Ibogaine. Two people died and two others suffered serious health effects. "Nevertheless, the suspect continued the treatment with Ibogaine", the court said. "She consciously accepted the significant chance that a client would die."