Cruise slammed by 9/11 fire-fighters

Film

09:30 16 December 2005

Tom Cruise has been slammed by fire-fighters injured in the 9/ll attacks - after he suggested they use Scientology to heal themselves.

The actor has reportedly urged people injured in the terrorist attacks to quit using their medication and inhalers and take natural remedies - including vitamins, saunas and cooking oil - instead.

The Hollywood heavyweight - a co-founder of the New York Rescue Workers Detoxification Project - has also supported a new Scientology clinic which espouses the "purification" programme.

However, doctors have reportedly dismissed the treatment as "quackery".

Deputy Fire Commissioner Frank Gribbon told America's PageSix.com: "If our doctors are prescribing medication, and Scientologists are saying 'don't take it', that's a problem for us."

He also claimed the department's deputy chief medical officer Dr David Prezant is against the treatment.

He said: "Prezant is not pleased when patients are advised to disobey doctors' orders. That's where he drew the line."

Scientology devotee Tom - who is engaged to actress Katie Holmes - has defended the purification process, claiming: "More than 500 individuals have recovered health and job fitness through this project."

(c) BANG Media International