Saint John Hospital Foundation donor Bruce Dowd wants refund

Bruce Dowd, the first donorto the Saint John Hospital Foundation's campaign for DNA sequencing equipment, says donors should be able to get their money back since the acquisition has been blocked.

The foundation's plans for a $900,000 DNA sequencing lab came to halt when Health Minister Victor Boudreau advised Horizon Health not to use the money for its intended purpose since the same equipment is available in Moncton.

Dowdwrote a cheque for $125,000 for the foundation's campaign. He isupset the money is sitting unused.

"If the equipment is not bought and the money is not used for that purpose, I want my money back," he said. "It's as simple as that."

The foundationmade the pitch that genetic testing of cancer cellswould enable Saint John doctors to deliver cutting-edge treatment.

Some critics say the foundation was misleading by failing to tell the public that Moncton already had genetic sequencing machines.

Boudreausays a province the size of New Brunswick can't afford two testing centres.

He says the foundation isn't to blame, but he did blamethe former Progressive Conservative government for telling the foundation to go ahead.

"Unfortunately, the former government did not look at the capacity issue and wrongfully gave them the green light to move forward," he said.

Former health minister Ted Flemming says he stands by his decision.

"We were determined that we were going to de-politicize this process. And that's what we did." he said. "And this is absolutely outrageous and it throws away everything that we did."

The Saint John Hospital Foundation have declined to speak for nearly a week. They did say theyremain optimistic that a solution will be found.

Experts in charity ethics say the foundation should be talking to its donors and should give them the opportunity to take back their money.

Dowdsays that is an opportunity he'd seize.

"If [the money]is not used for that purpose, the money should be refunded, as far as I'm concerned," he said.