ION confirms cancer fraud

A woman named Milagros Lay Navarro has been accused of pretending to have cancer in an effort to collect money for her treatment.

The National Cancer Institute (ION) confirmed that Milagros Lay Navarro publicly pretended to be a cancer patient last year to collect money, despite having never been treated or examined. 

Lay was featured on several television shows talking about her alleged illness. "Great Collection, a Miracle for Miracles, " said dozens of piggy banks were placed in various locations throughout the country.

On  Monday, April 17th, a statement from the ION said that after an investigation, Lay Navarro was not registered and had not received medical attention or any services.

"Due to the high risk of the medicines that our pharmacy delivers, as well as the sensitivity of the chemo and radiotherapy treatments that we offer, all our processes are registered and verified with different electronic control systems, before being applied or supplied, and in none of these control systems does the name of Lay Navarro appear, "the statement said.

Hours later, the FundaCáncer organization announced that the woman is no longer part of the volunteer body of that NGO.

"We have terminated all relations with Mrs. Lay Navarro, we deeply regret the actions of this individual.  We remind people that it is an isolated case and that it should not negate the value of the work of volunteers with cancer patients, especially the most needy, " the organization said in a statement.

Last year, Lay Navarro was also the image of the Fundacancer cancer early detection campaign.