BBC documentary on "psychic surgeon" Gary Mannion

[Alice Shortcake]

A forthcoming BBC documentary on Gary Mannion, a young man who claims to be a psychic surgeon guided by the Old Testament patriarch Abraham, can be sampled on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlnUIGSmEAc&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Eukskeptics%2Ecom%2Fforum%2 Fshowthread%2Ephp%3Ft%3D1229%26page%3D63&feature=player_embedded

Unlike the BBC my site www.badpsychicsgarymannion.co.uk doesn't pull any punches and isn't afraid to call a spade a spade...(YouTube comments welcome, by the way!)

[Azrael 5]

I think I've found his spirit guide
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vN_RYQ5seRQ

[Professor Yaffle]

I watched this last night. I see what you mean about the BBC pulling punches.

For those who can watch iplayer:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00jhbb3/Gary_Young_Psychic_and_Possessed/

[FarSideOfTheMoon]

It did make him look like an idiot, but then it had the standard BBC 'balance' thing throughout and especially at the end.

[leon_heller]

I was a bit worried about the tone of the programme at the beginning, but it got more critical and eventually showed that his claims weren't justified and he was probably a fraud.

Leon

[Azrael 5]

I see Patricia "gullible" Robertson got a starring role. Is there anyone she doesn't think is a fraud?!

[JonWhite]

I did grudgingly have to admire the "psychic development" workshop - a trip to Germany for nothing more than BS and a few ideo-motor tricks.

Darn my conscience!

The woman with the gallstone was sad though. Even when smacked in the face by evidence that Mannion's "healing" hadn't, she still wouldn't let go of her faith in him.

[Professor Yaffle]

I did grudgingly have to admire the "psychic development" workshop - a trip to Germany for nothing more than BS and a few ideo-motor tricks.

Darn my conscience!

The woman with the gallstone was sad though. Even when smacked in the face by evidence that Mannion's "healing" hadn't, she still wouldn't let go of her faith in him.

"Do you think there might have been two stones there before?"
:eek:

[JonWhite]

"Do you think there might have been two stones there before?"
:eek:


I couldn't help but wonder what it would actually take for her (or indeed the numerous other believers just like her) to stop their denial and wake up and smell the roses.

Kind'a highlighted just how much of an uphill struggle educating mis-placed, deep set belief can be. :(

[firecoins]

I went to 4 years of psychic medical school and 5 years of a psychic surgery residency to remove chicken parts from a metal basket and give the impression it is coming out of a person.

[leon_heller]

The programme is repeated tonight (BBC3, 18.00).

Leon

[bob_dezon]

I suspect it will just as bad the second time around ;)

[Comsat Angel]

I'm concerned. How up to date is Abraham's medical knowledge going to be?

[Azrael 5]

I'm concerned. How up to date is Abraham's medical knowledge going to be?

:D:D

[bindeweede]

Abraham doesn't really need to be up-to-date. He has a team of 37 consultants to help him out if necessary.

Well, that's what Mannion told over 200 people in St James's Church, Picadilly, London, in February 2008.

[Corsair 115]

I can still remember when Mr. Randi went on The Tonight Show and performed "pyschic surgery" on Johnny Carson.

[Gord_in_Toronto]

Just watching the BBC show on YouTube right now. (5 minutes in at the moment).

Is there not a law about "practicing medicine without a licence"? :D

SAD SAD SAD. Think of the poor Chickens!!! :(

[alfaniner]

I can still remember when Mr. Randi went on The Tonight Show and performed "pyschic surgery" on Johnny Carson.

No, you don't.

[Gord_in_Toronto]

Just watching the BBC show on YouTube right now. (5 minutes in at the moment).

Is there not a law about "practicing medicine without a licence"? :D

SAD SAD SAD. Think of the poor Chickens!!! :(

Back again. ;)

I see the "practicing medicine" is well covered. And no chickens appear to have participated in the making of the show.

I give the show about a 6.5 out of 10. What was strongly missing was any thought that harm is done by convincing people that they are cured (or being cured) when they are obviously not. The "lady with the pancreatic stones" might one day experience great pain, fall over and die.

Is it such a difficult effort to find 30 or 40 people with tumours (the could all be benign) and have them psychically operated on -- with before and after x-rays or other diagnostics. Surely this should easy to arrange for a TV show with even the most minimal resources of resources.

The most boggling thing is that Mr Mannion "operates" through clothing (how terribly English :blush:). This is first time I have seen a "psychic surgeon" do this. But the camera angles for the few shots when it is obvious that he is pretending to dig his fingers into a person are all taken at a low angle so you can't see what is actually happening. I wonder why? :confused:

After just reviewing the first 10 minutes of the show I note that he does tell one potential patient not to worry if she does not get selected as, "Lots of people in the audience get healed".

Sad all the way around. People do not need to be given false hope. They need to be cured and/or encouraged to face reality.

IMHO of course.

[bindeweede]

If anyone is still interested, or would like to view again, the documentary has appeared on YouTube. Part 3, where he channels Abraham has me in stitches.

I can't post urls, but just search for "young, psychic and possessed".

[Harpyja]

I went to 4 years of psychic medical school and 5 years of a psychic surgery residency to remove chicken parts from a metal basket and give the impression it is coming out of a person.

I'm concerned. How up to date is Abraham's medical knowledge going to be?

:dl:

If anyone is still interested, or would like to view again, the documentary has appeared on YouTube. Part 3, where he channels Abraham has me in stitches.

I can't post urls, but just search for "young, psychic and possessed".

It's no longer available because of a ToS violation.

[Alice Shortcake]

I was in touch with the director of this rather feeble documentary throughout the production process. He knew that Mannion had received warnings from two Trading Standards Offices (for claiming to cure cancer and enjoy the support of "leading medical professionals"), BrainGym (for using their copyrighted techniques without training) and a London hospital (for claiming that his work had been verified by a non-existant Head of Physiotherapy). NONE of this was mentioned in the programme.