The Fraudlent Mediums Act - Repealled!
Ok, so here’s the deal…
Spiritual Healers, Psychics, Mediums, Astrologers, Complementary Practitioners (?) are now all bound by the same consumer legislation that covers double glazing salespeople, builders, plumbers, electricians and so forth.
On first sight not a bad thing as it’s about protecting the public from fraudlent practices.
The new legislation replaces the Fraudulent Mediums Act of 1953 which protected the public against, not suprisingly, fraudulent mediums. If you could prove your psychic was fraudulent then you could sue.
The Rational Mystic in me is really interested and intrigued by this whole thing.
Firstly, going back to the 1953 law…
BY definition if there can be fraudulent mediums/psychics then, there must be ‘real’ psychics/mediums….
I’m really interested in the process by which this distinction could be made and defended in law. Many ‘fraudlent’ methods involved psychological as well as mechanical (social) technques. So in one respect if you caught your medium (for example) moving the planchette on a Quija board then fair game…. BUT how could you prove disprove the use of techniques like cold reading?
ALSO since most psychics and mediums make claims which are in and of themselves non-falsifiable it’s difficult to apply any scientific methodology to the investigation of what they do or say they do!
AND scientists aren’t that much better at seeing through ‘fraud’… one has only got to look at Project Alpha and what Steve Shaw was able to present under ‘test conditions’ to fool the ’scientists’ he was working with.
Secondly, the new legislation…
Psychics, Mediums, Complementary Health Practitioners and so forth now have to base their claims on that which is scientifically demonstrable. If they cannot do this then a standard disclaimer to the effect that the service is provided for ‘entertainment’ is expected…. moreso of there is any financial exchange for services. (OK, I know I’m generalising the legal side of things here).
So how will this work and how are we going to apply it?
I cast a horoscope for a client and my ‘predictions’ don’t pan out. Can they sue me?
Well apparently so IF I haven’t said that what they were purchasing was something intended to ‘entertain’.
A Complementary Therapy friend uses Homeopathy (which actually according to the letter of the law cannot be conisdered as a scientifically demonstrable approach) and doesn’t get better…. can she be sued?
What if my predictions are correct and the Homeopathy works?
Can we claim that both proceedures worked because ’self-fulfulling prophecies’ and the placebo effect are demonstrable scientifically?
And that’s just for starters…
As I see it it’s not just the ‘woo woo’ community that this legislation effects but its also the Christian Church.
I go to a service at my local church where prayers are offered to God for comfort and piece of mind.
I leave feeling no better DESPITE the church having taken some money off me in the form of a donation.
Can I sue?
I mean God is not scientifically demonstrable is He (She)?
AND God is the basis of the Churches claims about redemption, salvation, comfort - and healing!
I can see it now….
Outside every church a sign which says…
This service and everything that goes on within these walls is for entertainment puproses only!
AND…..
ANY disclaimer which mentions the notion of FREE WILL and a choice to engage/purchase/employ the services of the likes of the ’spiritual bunch’ is flawed scientifically anyway since recent studies in neurology fundamentally question the reality of free will!
No doubt as I research, listen and see more about this issue my initial opinions will change - maybe.
For now…
Well, as many of you know I am interested in the mystical (that includes Tarot, Astrology, Palmistry) so what am I doing?
I’m kinda covered because I do call myself a psychic entertainer (must have foreseen the problem coming!) BUT more to the point psychologically I see these ancient (unscientific) approaches as metaphors and not as statements about the material nature of the universe. (This really leads to a full discussion about Rational Mysticism which I will attempt to articulate at some point)…
For now you’ll see this disclaimer on some of my work:-
In accordance with recent legislation we must point out that these statements and opinions are offered for personal entertainment and reflection. In all cases you, as an individual, need to exercise your own judgement in terms of personal actions.
Astrology (or what ever aspect of my mystical work I’m exploring) is NOT scientifically demonstrable. It is best considered as an approach which uses metaphor and dialogue to create a framework for personal reflection, entertainment and solutions oriented thinking.
Alan - rambling 28/05/08
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2 Responses to “The Fraudlent Mediums Act - Repealled!”
Geoff Gill
June 28th, 2008
Hi Alan
I came to your web site to find an appropriate “Readings/Pyschic/Clairvoyance” Disclaimer. Having read your very interesting “take” on the whole matter, for me it has put several things into perspective. Thank you.
However, as I had detailed below I have been involved in a very worrying situation and trust you might leave it in as a warning/help to other who might browse this site.
Many thanks.
I do ‘Angel Card Readings’ and in severals years have only had a couple who where only 98% happy with My/Angels/Spirit guidance. Basically because they wanted to “hear” from a particular person in spirit and was disappointed they I didn’t give that individuals name, when they died, what they died of etc. even though I identified their immediate problem/issue in life, gave them what was ‘best advise/guidance’ and an expected outcome in 3 to 6 months (all things being considered, of course). All this they were amazed at, particularly as to how I knew so much about them considering we had never meet before. But even with me stating clearly and categorically all this information, becauseI couldn’t state it WAS from the particular person they wanted to hear from (it may have been, bt to be honest, I didn’t pick that up) they politely thanked me, said the donation to the church (whom I was volunteering my day too, to help raise funds) was worth it and they enjoyed a “different” kind of reading that they didn’t expect and quite enjoyed!
Now I’ve got a headache!
Anyway, just a week ago I found myself at the very sharp end of a very serious situation which could have put a couple of coppers on my doorstep over an individual that turned out to be so distraught at his wife cancer and that he only had one thougth in his mind, “she was going to died” and wanted a reading to tell him “When his wife would die!”
This he stated the moment he sat down and twice more in the first couple of minutes.
Being a person who always tries to help people (I am also a fully qualified healer/healer trainer for the last 10 years), I naturally continue as this man really did need help and someone who would listen to him.
For 40 minutes I patiently worked through the cards as normal, asking him not to ‘feed me’ and I gave him, by his own admission at the time, a very good reading. He thanked me heartly, shaking my hand firmly and with slight smile on his face, also saying he felt much better.
I said I wanted to give him healing before he left and walked him back into the church (I do readings in a healing hut next to the church) and said to the President he needed further help. Unfortunately, she told me I had another client and she would look after him.
I later learned that he left without healing with his daughter who also came for a reading.
To my shock and amazement I received a call from the Church President the next day to say she learnt that this gentleman had told his family including a brother-in-law (who fortunately was on the church committee), that I had said his wife would died soon and he would commit suicide! I hasten to add that I said neither of things.
He had admited that he had contemplated suicide and because of his distraught state of mind he later believed I had said it.
This sage goes on a little more, but I think I have made my point that in some cases no matter what you say to some people regardless of whether they appear to need help or not, are sane and level headed or not or are just out for a laugh, from now on you have to be careful and ensure you have adequate proof of what was actually said in such readings.
Even though there was a disclaimer notice for individuals to read it is of scant comfort when faced with above.
I have had an awful week half expecting the police to visit etc. etc. I have also seriously considered giving up this lifetimes work. All I want to do is help people but it cannot be at putting my own health at risk, let alone livelyhood etc.
Just last evening I heard from the brother-in-law to say all has settled down. The client has seen sence and agreed that I did not say the things he thought I said. I also stated that should I continue, not only would I have a disclaimer to hand, that would be given to the sitter to read, but I will tape record each reading. At the end of the reading the tape will be put back in its cassette, sealed and the sealing label will have both the sitters and my signatures and date.
This in turn will be given to a third party to keep for 3 months.
My apologies for detailing this story but felt it important in the hope that it will help others.