‘Cops detain herbalist ‘Sister Lynn’ after woman dies at clinic

Oct 18, 2011 News

Popular self-proclaimed herbalist, Lurline Smith, called ‘Sister Lynn’ was in custody last night after a 61-year-old woman collapsed and died while undergoing treatment for tuberculosis at Smith’s Nandy Park, East Bank Demerara home.
Julie Mohabir, of St. Stephen’s Street, Charlestown, reportedly passed away around 14:00 hrs yesterday, shortly after ingesting an herbal concoction that Smith had given her.

Self proclaimed herbalist Lurline Smith

Police subsequently detained the herbalist and a male assistant who resides at Norton Street, Lodge. They also took away a large bottle containing the concoction that Mohabir was given.
Kaieteur News understands that the herbalist has told investigators that Mohabir, who indicated that she was suffering from TB, visited her around 13:00 hrs. ‘Sister Lynn’ reportedly gave her an herbal tea (called ‘double D’)
About half an hour later, the patient was observed vomiting and was placed on a bed, where she died.
A brother of the victim said that Mohabir had been suffering from tuberculosis for about two years and was receiving treatment at the Georgetown Public Hospital. She had also sought treatment at a private doctor but was getting no relief.
“She been to (doctor’s name given) but like the treatment didn’t help,” the brother said. He said that yesterday, his sister indicated that she would go to ‘Sister Lynn’ for help.
A female relative who accompanied Mohabir to ‘Sister Lynn’ told Kaieteur News that on arrival, Mohabir informed ‘Sister Lynn’ that she was suffering from tuberculosis and showed the herbalist a yellow card that she had been given at the GPHC.
“She say that people does come to her and she does treat them for that,” the relative said.
According to the relative, Mohabir gave ‘Sister Lynn’ an initial fee of $4,000, and the herbalist indicated that Mohabir was required to pay some $60,000 for the entire treatment, which would last some three months. The treatment would allegedly include injections.
The relative said that ‘Sister Lynn’ then gave Mohabir a glass containing a liquid, and told the patient that the liquid would make Mohabir ‘throw up’ the mucous from her body.
After drinking the liquid, Mohabir reportedly sat on a bench outside the treatment room. “I ask she how she feel and she say that she feeling upset, and she ask to lie down in the room.”
According to the relative, Mohabir indicated that she was ‘feeling bad’ and wanted to ‘throw up.’ She said that ‘Sister Lynn and a man who was assisting the herbalist then brought a bucket into which Mohabir vomited. Mohabir reportedly continued to say that she felt unwell and ‘Sister Lynn’ brought a fan into the room.

‘Sister Lynn’s clinic

The relative alleged that Mohabir was sitting on the bed and ‘Sister Lynn’ was holding Mohabir’s shoulders as she vomited when the patient suddenly slumped forward.”
“She (‘Sister Lynn’) was talking to she (Mohabir) and getting no response and then she say, ‘the lady pass away.”
Kaieteur News was told that the herbalist then contacted the police, while the relative contacted Mohabir’s daughter. The relative said that police who arrived at the scene took away a large bottle containing a liquid.
‘Sister Lynn’ and a male assistant were taken to the Providence Police Station, while Mohabir’s body was taken to the Lyken Funeral Parlour.
Lurline Smith, called ‘Sister Lynn,’ advertises her business (Sister Lyn’s Indigenous Herbal Clinic) on two local television channels and on Facebook. She reportedly has a lucrative clientele.
But Health officials have repeatedly cautioned the public about seeking medical treatment from herbalists and other uncertified persons.

28 thoughts on “‘Cops detain herbalist ‘Sister Lynn’ after woman dies at clinic”

GTMAX1A October 18, 2011 at 9:03 am

was she given the wrong herb or did she have other issues? sorry for the loss
RaAmen October 18, 2011 at 9:15 am

This is sad, but i know herbs do work, maybe the herbs and the medications she was taking had a counterreaction.
sweetrissa October 18, 2011 at 9:35 am

i guess everyone wants to make a quick dollar, even if it means puttin people’s life in danger…..
ryan October 18, 2011 at 9:58 am

very sad
bevlyn r October 18, 2011 at 10:30 am

Their is the other side of the coin which must be considered. Perhaps the person was near death’s door and decided in a last attempt to visit Lynn then subsequently died.

The death would be pinned on Lynn.

Hmmm…anyhow Lynn will have to treat the police now.
Keshan1 October 18, 2011 at 10:38 am

i works at the georgetown chest clinic and dont know of any herb that cures tb and i am ah big fan of herbal medications also it free by the govt of guyana why pay 64000 for it anyway sumtimes ppl jus gat to learn the hard way we hear these stories many ah times from our patients that they will go seek herb though this is jus one of those cases that went wrong and i am sure that she had other medical conditions so this is also why if you dont tell doctors the true this is the end results personally i dont tell them the true cause it real personal questions they ask
smallcoat October 18, 2011 at 10:57 am

Lynn and all other faith healers should be investigated FULLY and IMMEDIATELY!
1. carl veecock October 18, 2011 at 11:20 am
  
  Investigated by whom?
  
  She is a poor struggling woman.
  
  The coffers are bare, so there is nothing to get.
  
  Like you forget the guyanese current day practices and mentality.
  1. smallcoat October 18, 2011 at 12:49 pm
    
    You obviously have been out of Guyana for too long, as you don’t know anything about “Sister Lynn”.
    
    The woman is NOT poor; she rich – rich from getting nuff money from dem poor people who are desperate.
    
    Investigated by whom? Perhaps the likes of Carl Veecock!
kukuigok October 18, 2011 at 11:14 am

Probably out of desperation the lady went to this herbalist. The Public Hospital misdiagnosed a young man and was treating him for tuberculosis even though the sputum test results revealed that he was negative, about two to three weeks later he was dead. Autopsy done showed that he had died from pneumonia.
Besides that, herbalists should be regularised as we do know that some herbs do work.
1. Politricks_4U October 18, 2011 at 2:10 pm
  
  Who in police custody after that death? Who accountable for the misdiagnosis?
Burch01 October 18, 2011 at 11:27 am

Come on ,do not put your faith entirely in those products from the pharmaceutical corporations.Herbalists do work….they however need to be able to conform other preexisting condition so that they can be more precise in their treatment.
My sympathy to the family..
Patricia Benjamin October 18, 2011 at 12:27 pm

Is this kind a thing legal? Is this practise permitted by law?
catwomanmaneater October 18, 2011 at 12:34 pm

If you cant show me your medical qualifications….. I not coming for you to treat me!!!!!!!!!!!!.let this be a lesson and warning to you all………….
Gookaran October 18, 2011 at 12:40 pm

sister lyn will get off ,if found guilty. she have money and contacts. and in guyana if you have to re-write the constitution to justify that a wrong was the best thing to do it will be done. guyana is a failed democracy and will continue to be because nothing else can or will work there.that is the country where all good things will come to a premature end.
sharkkey October 18, 2011 at 1:54 pm

sad but here is my testimony about bush. bush do help. I walk in the bush , I drink bush, eat bush and even shower in the bush. i wish i can have some bush unfortunately I too for away from the bush. please bush do help never take medication as a child . Aunty Julie unfortunately your death came in the hands of this woman’s hand. R.IP
DAVIOLA October 18, 2011 at 2:33 pm

Herbal treatments do work is herbs that makes the tablets and all the other medications Doctors give us,sorry for the loss.
Glamourgirl22 October 18, 2011 at 2:44 pm

Most times people lie about their sickness, these herbalist are very good . I was helped 10 years ago or I would have had to take a very risky operation. I have since being living a healthy lifestyle. Herbalist usually go the extra mile for you.
1. Amanda October 18, 2011 at 10:11 pm
  
  for $64, 000 – that is a marathon!!!!!!!!!!!
brikhous October 18, 2011 at 2:55 pm

Were there underlying factors that we have not been told about? All medicines are originally derived from herbs. Scientists take the herbs, do a chemical,molecular ibreak-down. Then they use this information to manufacture synthetic drugs. The problem is the side effects actually out-weigh the benefits. Could be that ‘Sister Lynn’ prescribed the correct mix of herbs, but the medication that Ms.Mohabir was taking was one of those drugs with one benefit and 99 side effects.
BeFair_SeeClear October 18, 2011 at 3:26 pm

So sorry to hear that the woman passed … They say death is absolute she was given a double D… dead dead be careful of those MIX especially when it conventional medicine clashes with the non conventional.
tigerk October 18, 2011 at 3:46 pm

Herbalist my foot, was this woman academically qualified to call herself a herbalist, was she aware of the medicinal purposes of the herbs she administered to the woman or its effects or after effects, although they are some local remedies of herds which can ‘make you feel well’ in some instances, it has never been proven to effectively cure people of their illness, the thing about guyanese, they take too much for granted, we need to be educated in these regards.
Charles October 18, 2011 at 5:53 pm

What is she doing with a white uniform and stethscope around her neck? These people are dangerous and giving people false hope. She should be locked up – no question about it.
Basil L October 18, 2011 at 5:55 pm

sislyn do a lot of good for people. sislynn is a women of GOD .
Basil L October 18, 2011 at 6:01 pm

sislynn is a good women a women of God.Sislynn is certified by GOD NOT BY MAN.
1. coveman October 18, 2011 at 6:44 pm
  
  Ask sister Lyn to free the country of all the garbage. If sister blessed by God why she taking money from poor sick people? Do not misunderstand the difference between obeah and religion.
xingridx October 18, 2011 at 6:26 pm

maybe that lady had other sickness and her death was near just that it happen when she turn to the last option
benrho October 19, 2011 at 5:01 pm

Was Mohabir taking any prescription medication?