Trust me I'm a healer - BBC2 tonight

[Irish Murdoch]

...and there was a gnome!!!

I can't remember what the hallucinogen was unfortunately. I could take great pleasure in getting this self-deluded, half-witted, rip-off peddler of false hopes arrested!

It was ayahuasca. Goodness knows whether it's illegal or not. All I can say is it looked like it produce a pretty darned unpleasant experience. I'll be sticking to real ale.

My overall impression of this character is that he was genuinely deluded, rather than simply a conman. That said, if we accept the delusion thesis, then we have to believe that he is galacticallydeluded. I say this because he claimed that a ring he was wearing had been given to him by fairies, and that some "dragon's eggs" simply manifested themselves while he was meditating. Now, of course, he must have at some point deliberately bought or otherwise acquired these items. To have done this and genuinely to think that they had been given to him by fairies/turned up during omphalitic contemplation is to be pretty powerfully deluded, I'd say. But then maybe that's what happens if you take enough hallucinogenic roots ....

 

[Irish Murdoch]

Try the Cancer Act 1939. He seems to be advertising cancer treatments.

Good idea, but I wonder if this, from his website, might cover him:

"These are the issues a person with cancer will need to face on their journey to find healing, but I must state that this does not constitute a cure for cancer, and no guarantee of cure is being implied, as in natural healing we treat the person, not the disease, and each persons journey will be unique."

What on earth that means, I don't know. If I get cancer, I'd like the disease treating, please. Treating the person, whatever that is, doesn't seem to do a thing to the disease ....

 

[Mojo]

Good idea, but I wonder if this, from his website, might cover him:

"These are the issues a person with cancer will need to face on their journey to find healing, but I must state that this does not constitute a cure for cancer, and no guarantee of cure is being implied, as in natural healing we treat the person, not the disease, and each persons journey will be unique."

What on earth that means, I don't know. If I get cancer, I'd like the disease treating, please. Treating the person, whatever that is, doesn't seem to do a thing to the disease ....

The Cancer Act prohibits advertising treatments for cancer rather than claimed cures, so that disclaimer wouldn't get him out of it.

No person shall take any part in the publication of any advertisement—

containing an offer to treat any person for cancer, or to prescribe any remedy therefor, or to give any advice in connection with the treatment thereof

 

[volatile]

How does one go about seeking a private prosecution then? Or could we just report him to his local constabulary?

 

[Reno]

I have to admire you guys who managed to sit through those 2 programmes. I have tried on a few occasions to watch things like this on telly. I just can't do it. I used to be able to at least turn the programme on for a little while, but now I can't even bring myself to watch any part of any of them. They make me physically ill. The last thing I managed to watch was part of an episode of Most Haunted Live. After 10 mins I had a thumping headache and really felt like I was going to vomit.

I appreciate the posts and comments about these programmes though.

 

[volatile]

Email sent to the Devon & Cornwall Constabulary, via their website:

Sirs,

Following the documentary programme "Trust Me... I'm a Healer!" on BBC 2 (8th January, 10pm), I am writing to you ask for your investigation into a possible breach of the law within the boundaries of your constabulary jurisdiction.

Pursuant to the Cancer Act 1939, Section 4, I believe Peter Aziz, of 20 Furlong Close, Buckfast to be in breach of the act's provision to prevent "an offer to treat any person for cancer, or to prescribe any remedy therefor, or to give any advice in connection with the treatment thereof". The documentary, and his website, clearly shows Aziz receiving payment from cancer patients in return for his spurious faith healing "treatments".

Whilst Aziz's website (at http://www.azizshamanism.com/) does claim a broadly worded disclaimer to the effect that his mystical, bizarre activities do not constitute a "cure" for cancer, it is clear that he is obtaining pecuniary advantage by offering treatments therefor.

I trust that you will take this enquiry seriously, as it seems clear to me that allowing charlatans and con-men to profit from the misery and desperation of the terminally ill is something the Devon & Cornwall constabulary should take with the utmost seriousness.

Yours,

Volatile

 

[volatile]

Well, full marks to the D&CC for prompt action - I had a call first thing this morning and ended up having a long chat with an officer about the programme (he hadn't seen it, although one of his colleagues had) and my specific concerns about it.

He had taken advice and thought that from a legal point of view they'd have problems getting a conviction due to the weasel-worded nature of Aziz' disclaimer. As the conversation went on, it was clear he was in the "non-believer" but not "sceptical" camp, as he made numerous vague references to "things you and I don't understand", but when I pointed out to him he might feel different were his own mother or grandmother were being conned, he realised the consequences of Aziz' actions.

Anyway, that was that, more or less it - he was very receptive, very interested and promised that, whilst he would make sure his "patch" would keep an eye on Aziz, there is an unfortunate disjunction between morality and the law in this particular area. I'm left wondering now whether other statutes might have been more applicable - Trades Descriptions, Obtaining Pecuniary Advantage Through Deception or other more regularly applied laws might have better convinced the boys in blue.

All in all, though, and it has to be said, I'm really impressed with the seriousness and speed that this was dealt with, despite the ultimately disappointing conclusion.

 

[H3LL]

Mattlodder, would it be worth contacting the CPS for their opinion? You have made the complaint and ultimately it is they that will decide whether to go ahead and if it is worthwhile.

Devon & Cornwall CPS

.

 

[Capsid]

So the cancer act is a waste of time? You should go back to the police and requote the act as Mojo pointed out.

The Cancer Act prohibits advertising treatments for cancer rather than claimed cures, so that disclaimer wouldn't get him out of it.

 

[Irish Murdoch]

So the cancer act is a waste of time? You should go back to the police and requote the act as Mojo pointed out.

The only possible problem there is Aziz's (witless) claim on his site that his sort of therapy treats the person rather than the disease. Goodness knows what that means. But it leaves him open to saying "No, I don't treat cancer, I treat people with cancer". (That, of course, makes it sound as if he takes them out to the cinema or something.)

Just to re-emphasise that I was appalled by the programme. People can believe in fairies, dragons, and tree spirits all they want (it's their life, and who am I to say that they can't lead it in a fug of fantasy?), but when they go giving false hope to vulnerable people for financial gain, I get angry ....

 

[Deetee]

It was ayahuasca. Goodness knows whether it's illegal or not. All I can say is it looked like it produce a pretty darned unpleasant experience. I'll be sticking to real ale.

Interesting.
Wikipedia tells us something of its legal status. Apparently one constituent, dimethyl triptamine is a listed drug but using the source plant to brew up a concoction would not be illegal. In addition to the DMT, one also needs a monoamine oxidase inhibitor before the DMT acts as a hallucinogen.

In the programme, several people seemed to be puking their guts out, and one confused man stripped completely naked.

I wonder what would happen if under the influence of the stuff, one of Aziz's "patients" did something really dangerous, like stabbed someone. Pretty sure the D&C Constabulary would take more of an interest then.

Would it be worth alerting them that aside from breaching the Cancer Act he is also doing this to people?

 

[volatile]

To the head of the D&C CPS:

Sir,

I am writing to you in your capacity as Chief Crown Prosecutor for the Devon and Cornwall area.

In have recently been in contact with the Devon and Cornwall constabulary (ref OIS1054 10/1/07) regarding what I feel to have been a breach of the provisions of the 1939 Cancer Act, amongst others, and whilst I was most impressed with the speed and courtesy with which the police dealt with my concerns, I remain unconvinced by their specific assertion that there is probably no substantial case that can be brought.

My specific concerns arose from a documentary screened on BBC2 on the 8th January, 2006, entitled "Trust Me... I'm a Healer!". The programme focussed on the services offered by a Devon man, a Mr Peter Aziz from Furlong Close in Buckfast, who preyed on desperate cancer victims including an elderly lady who died only shortly after receiving his "treatments". Aziz offers treatments for cancer which, if his website (http://www.azizshamanism.com/) and the documentary are to be taken at face value, include communing with gnomes, spirits and faeries and the application of mystical crystals (!), all of which he charges handsome sums to supply.

Pursuant to the Cancer Act 1939, Section 4, these activities appear to be in breach of the act's provision to prevent "an offer to treat any person for cancer, or to prescribe any remedy therefor, or to give any advice in connection with the treatment thereof". D&CC were of the opinion that this man's deeply immoral actions were not necessarily contrary to this act, particularly as he provides a mealy-mouthed disclaimer that the services he offers do not constitute a "cure". Aside from the fact that those seeking his services clearly believe he is indeed providing a cure, you'll note the specific wording of Section 4 prohibit the provision of a treatment or "advice therefor", not just a cure.

I understand that, on the face of it, this may seem to be a trivial matter, but I would ask you to consider how you might feel were it a close family member of yours being fleeced in this way. My grandmother died of throat cancer and she was plagued in her final weeks by charlatans and mystics of this order offering her false hope in return for what I imagine to have been a not inconsiderable sum of money. The law, I understand, takes a dim view of other forms of fraud and deception, and I feel that just because this specific con is couched in magical language that it should necessarily be beyond your remit.

Would the CPS consider Mr Aziz' actions to be in breach of the 1939 Act? Are there any other appropriate statutes relevant to deception that might also be suitably applicable? It pains me greatly to imagine this man being able to continue to fleece money from the elderly, the vulnerable and the infirm without consequence.

Yours,


Matthew C Lodder