Comments of an Australian Doctor

Zerdini has received the following unsolicited email from a doctor in Australia:

“You do wonderful work with the forum; I, for one, appreciate integrity and scholarship and you have demonstrated both in abundance. I still hold out the hope that I will one day experience outstanding genuine materialisation mediumship first hand. The Alec Harris sittings have particular resonance for my mother to this day.

"Her Red Indian guide materialised at the sitting, enfolded her in his cloak, picked her up and twirled her around the room. He remarked that he wished her to experience how strong he was and that he would always protect her. A year later my mother was involved in a tragic car accident that claimed the life of my brother. Her car was flattened. She emerged unscathed.

"My father was also present at the sitting and a man appeared, approached him, and spoke in his ear. Before dematerialising, the being hugged my father and wept on his shoulder. He turned out to be an uncle who was "killed" by the Nazis during a raid. The information he disclosed to my father was known only to him, including specific nicknames of various family members.

“After my brother's death he communicated through Mona van der Watt! in ways that my mother has never forgotten. Interesting, the common links between your experiences with spiritualist luminaries and my families'!

“I have unfortunately since encountered much disappointment with current "proponents" of mediumship who seem to lack quality and integrity. I had an extremely off putting experience with David Thomson last year which was nothing short of farcical, including witnessing him dispensing medical advice which was inaccurate, illogical and dangerous. He had no knowledge that I was a medical practitioner, so it was extremely revealing. I had expected to witness a materialisation in the fashion of Alec Harris who my parents attended in Johannesburg in the 60's - safe to say it was nothing of the kind.

All the best and thank you for your work,

Name withheld for medical reasons

A very good place to put this Lis, even if with it being anonymous I reckon Mr Thompson will claim that it was self written by Z.

Of course the healing issues regarding DT and his guides are well documented here on the forum. https://www.spiritualismlink.com/t672-questions-for-david-thompson

It appeared that DT dropped out of his healing for a time but I note it has reappeared as a regular part of his performances, as ever at a decent fee for him. It is the one thing he does which I believe could bring him down because in most were a group from the Medical Association to attend and witness the errors this Doctor quotes then this could cause him real problems.

The question that arises in my mind about the un-named medical practitioner's words regarding David Thompson is, why, if last year he/she witnessed Thompson "dispensing medical advice which was inaccurate, illogical and dangerous," they have not reported this inappropriate conduct to the proper authorities.

After all, as a medical practitioner, they are surely well aware that it is illegal for a person who is not a qualified and registered medical practitioner to purport to either diagnose, prescribe or offer 'medical' advice.

And surely, an ethical medical practitioner (which I assume this person is), would be deeply concerned about the risks to those who were the recipients of this inaccurate, illogical and dangerous 'medical' advice. Equally, one would hope they would want to prevent the potential consequences of them acting on this 'advice,' and also desire to prevent others in the future being exposed to risk in this way.

If the un-named medical practitioner's concerns are justified, and they have given a truthful statement about what occurred, but do not wish to expose themselves to the wrath of Thompson or his supporters, there are a number of avenues open to them as a medical practitioner to report their concerns without their name being revealed. The appropriate authorities are more than capable of taking an initual complaint and investigating further to establish whether there is a case to answer.

I would add, I believe in fairness to David Thompson when claims of this kind are made he should have a right of reply, so I invite David, who I am well aware 'lurks' in the background, to speak up in his own defense. I assure him, he would get a fair hearing so long as he doesn't just come on and abuse anyone or the forum administrators.

Please can the person stating these comments, get their facts absolutely correct! As at no time last year did David Thompson give medical advice to anyone, throughout a seance. We are well aware, and informed of a situation as described as this situation last year, with another physical medium which WAS NOT David Thompson!!

I would suggest that the person whom states this is David Thompson, checks his facts, as this situation regarding the other medium, came to our knowledge through someone whom also happened to be at the same event! David Thompson knew nothing about this !!
Should the alleged doctor wish to verify their claims, in regards to this accusation, they should feel free to contact us at: silvercordcircle@gmail.com

Anonymous emails posted on this website, making accusations like these should surely be investigated and substantiated prior to being placed in the public domain.

As for the lurking in the background with this website, it is often brought to our attention through other people, of the comments placed here regarding David Thompsons work. Our main reason of not engaging in the continual negative statements on this website is due to the apparent negative prejudice by certain members of this site.

Circle of the Silvercord Administration

Silvercord Admin,

I said quite plainly "I believe in fairness to David Thompson when claims of this kind are made he should have a right of reply" which hardly constitutes either a 'negative statement' or "negative prejudice" being shown.

You have now, on David's behalf had a right of reply and have stated that you believe the criticisms have been wrongly levelled at David and that it was actually another medium. I thank you, on behalf of the forum administration for putting your position so clearly.

I must ask, however, what part of the comment David "would get a fair hearing so long as he doesn't just come on and abuse anyone or the forum administrators" are you unable to understand?

Since I must presume that you speak for David, the same caveat therefore applies to you.

Hopefully, however, if you post again on this site you will strive to curb the aggressive statements as it does little to present the circle of the silver cord in good light. While we appreciate that people can hold strong opposing opinions and be very passionate in expressing them, there is no need for rudeness or allegations of prejudice.

Silvercord Admin made the comment:

"I would suggest that the person whom states this is David Thompson, checks his facts, as this situation regarding the other medium, came to our knowledge through someone whom also happened to be at the same event! David Thompson knew nothing about this !!
Should the alleged doctor wish to verify their claims, in regards to this accusation, they should feel free to contact us at: silvercordcircle@gmail.com"

I personally quite agree with their viewpoint. I made clear in my reposting of a post by Zerdini, that I felt the authenticity of the comments was undermined by the fact that the author's name was with-held.

I also stated quite clearly that "if the un-named medical practitioner's concerns are justified, and they have given a truthful statement of what occurred" they should take appropriate action. Indeed, I am rather surprised that a medical practitioner had apparently not taken action if what they claimed was true.

If the allegations are wrongly attributed to David Thompson the alleged author of the email is either lying or is seriously at error if they are unable to remember accurately what occurred in whose seance.

Perhaps, at this point the person who originally posted this email should converse with its author to elicite further information, or an apology.

It would be very interesting to hear what the medical advice actually was.

There is one further comment that must be made. Silvercord Admin has claimed "Our main reason of not engaging in the continual negative statements on this website is due to the apparent negative prejudice by certain members of this site."

I would point out, as a matter of fact, that there is just one thread that relates to David Thompson on this site. It is seldom added to, other than to draw attention to posts concerning David on Paranormal Review for those that might be interested.

There are no "continual negative statements on this website" nor is there any apparent or real "negative prejudice." There are questions that have been raised by many people. Questions that David feels disinclined to answer. That is his right, just as it is our forum members and others right to ask the questions.

Asking questions and seeking answers does not constitute negativity or prejudice and it is well past the time when David Thomspon and his Silvercord Admin stopped continually trying to make such unnecessary and inappropriate allegations.

Yes, indeed, Wes. If there is a 'medium' out there that is giving inaccurate, illogical and dangerous pseudo-medical advice, it would be most helpful for the Spiritualist community and the PM community to know both what was said and who actually said it so that people could protect themselves from such conduct, preferrably by shunning the medium and avoiding attendance at the seances.

I now realise one further important point should be made in response to SilvercordAdmin's comment:

"Anonymous emails posted on this website, making accusations like these should surely be investigated and substantiated prior to being placed in the public domain."

Perhaps Silvercord Admin is unaware that the email was initially posted elsewhere on the forum by Zerdini who stated that he had received the email from a known person and the email was unsolicited. We, as Administrators of this forum, assumed that Zerdini was truthful in his claim and that he both knew the author of the email and had reason to believe that the author was being truthful.

We also presumed, and again perhaps we should not have, that the author of the email had given permission for their email to be posted on this site, though did not wish to have their name revealed for personal or professional reasons.

In response to Silvercord Admin's comment, we will, indeed, seek clarification of these matters from the appropriate persons.

I would add, based on the first comment on the email that was posted, it appears that the author of the email may be a member, or at least, a visitor to this forum. If this is the case they could, whether revealing their real name or by using a pseudonym, which they are free to do as many others have, clarify the statement they have made in the email to Zerdini, and either confirm they believe their comments are rightly attributable to David Thompson's mediumship or make a full and unequivocal apology on this site and to David Thompson directly.

There is one comment made by Silvercord Admin, that does require further illumination. They stated: ". . . at no time last year did David Thompson give medical advice to anyone, throughout a seance."

Disregarding for the moment the strange use of the word "throughout" the comment appears to suggest that David Thompson was not in the last 12 months offering the services of his 'trance doctor' but this is surely not correct. There are numerous records on the internet regarding David Thompson offering 'healing sessions' during his various activities over the past year and these are readily accessible to anyone who cares to take the time to search.

As I understand it, and based on feedback from those who claim to have been there, 'medical' comments and suggestions may often be included in David Thompson's healing sessions. Then again, perhaps David has learned from past experience not to do that.

I take it that David's 'Admin' is stating that no 'medical' advice was given during his 'physical mediumship' seances. If that is the case, then clearly the un-named doctor is in error.

Then again, I find the words "at no time last year did David Thompson give medical advice" rather curious given during David's seances he is in trance and under the control of William Charles Cadwell and his cohorts, so David couldn't give advice could he?

Interesting topic factoring out the people involved. English law does not forbid anyone diagnosing and prescribing or recommending treatment as long as the treatments prescribed are not those ring fenced to registered medical practitioners. As long as, and this is posibly unique to England; the prescription is for a human not an animal. So medical herbalists acupuncture people and the like are free to go about their unregulated business as are mediums acting the trance instrument for spirit doctors or healers. That said our insurance specifically prohibits conducting healing whilst entranced. For 'health and safety' reasons. Example a medium can say 'I am being told there is diabetic condition around you... if you have been feeling off colour you should think about that and watch how what you eat and drink affects how you feel afterwards. AND CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR'. That' OK. But were that to be given as... 'You are a diabettic you need to take hese particular pills or this particular strength of insulin by injection'. That is breaking the law. These sorts of thing are covered in depth in healer training courses that are accepted by insurers hence it is next to impossible for an untrained healer in England to obtain the necessary legal cover required to work. It's far from a perfect system but at least it goes some way to protecting people from dangerous practices. Mediums and more especially healers need to be so careful in what we say and how exactly we say it. Hence training is absolutely essential. You can't train anybody to BECOME a medium or healer but ever working medium and healer should be trained in how best and legally to go about what it is they are called to do and,certainly under English law; they must be insured both for their own protection and that of the people they see.

I think your comments KK are quite relevant to this discussion. In one sense what you describe has parallels here in Australia, however, as you rightly point out no one who is not a registered and qualified medical practitioner can say "You are a diabetic, you need to take these particular pills or this particular strength of insulin by injection." Nor can they with legal impunity tell a person that a particular condition is caused by X or Y or that they should take A or B and it will relieve the problem, unless they are registered under some other recognised body, which might well include naturapaths for example.

What is entirely clear is that 'spiritual healers' and mediums in a 'trance' state can not diagnose, prescribe or purport to offer medical advice without placing themselves at risk. The legislation is quite clear about what they cannot do, and it is a most unwise person who steps outside the legal requirements.

I should have qualified what I said abouut trance healing.
It is permissible in law but NOT involving physical contact or proximity to the sitter. The insurance policy we all have over here is word for word identical wherever it comes from. Only two companies underwrite it for all the alternative associations and bodies. The cost differences depend on how much commission the issuind body charges as agent for the insurer. I have had cove over the years via both the insurers through SNU then CSHA and nowCorinthians. The cover and exclusions for trance work are now and have always been the same.
The only other experience I have had re legal restrictions on Spiritualist healing is in America. At Lily Dale they told me that in some states contact hands-on healing is illegal for Spiritualist healers so healers make passes over but not on the body. In other states they can make manual physical contact. Bit potty as in Lily Dale they make passes but after the healing they either shake hands with or even hug the sitter but they can't touch them during the actual procedure for healing.
Best short summary I ever hard was from a 'good ol' gal' very humble and down to earth Lily Dale medium who said....
'Healing aint about curing. It's Spirit.... Working!'

Lis wrote:There is one comment made by Silvercord Admin, that does require further illumination. They stated: ". . . at no time last year did David Thompson give medical advice to anyone, throughout a seance."

Disregarding for the moment the strange use of the word "throughout" the comment appears to suggest that David Thompson was not in the last 12 months offering the services of his 'trance doctor' but this is surely not correct. There are numerous records on the internet regarding David Thompson offering 'healing sessions' during his various activities over the past year and these are readily accessible to anyone who cares to take the time to search.

As I understand it, and based on feedback from those who claim to have been there, 'medical' comments and suggestions may often be included in David Thompson's healing sessions. Then again, perhaps David has learned from past experience not to do that.

I take it that David's 'Admin' is stating that no 'medical' advice was given during his 'physical mediumship' seances. If that is the case, then clearly the un-named doctor is in error.

Then again, I find the words "at no time last year did David Thompson give medical advice" rather curious given during David's seances he is in trance and under the control of William Charles Cadwell and his cohorts, so David couldn't give advice could he?

Silvercord Admin could have saved a lot of confusion and speculation here by simply stating that at no time last year did David Thompson give any medical advice. Hard enough to be sure of, but still better than implying that he might have given medical advice outside of seances, such as in public demonstrations or lectures, during private readings, interviews and so on. More clarity from Z's correspondant would also be helpful as to under what circumstances David Thompson is alleged to have given erroneous medical advice.

I am pretty sure that David did do some healing sessions here in Aus and also overseas last year. Certainly he did in his latest trip to Switzerland. These are seperate to the seances and conducted in the light. Of course the writer of the email does not say where he attended a session. Interestingly the reply from silvercordadmin tends to suggest this may be a real email, the only issue they really express is the complaint is about another medium not DT. If so it would be interesting to know the name of that medium.

I wonder if, as Lis said, the enigmatic comment "DT gave no medical advice last year" is because it his guides that are doing it whilst he is entranced. Maybe silvercordadmin could elaborate upon that point.

Should someone take the guides advice and suffer harm I do not think a prosecutor would act against the guide but certainly they may well act against the medium. Addditionally, if I was a medium who became aware that the guides said or did things that might cause harm, I would certainly want to discontinue my healing practice for the safety of my clients. Indeed I may wonder what and who those beings purporting to be my guides actually were.

Jim

Well it's a risky business to be doing.
However good the intentions we live in litigious times so its not IF but WHEN someone decides to sue.
There are folks out there who go round finding healers to make a claim against via no win no fee lawyers who advertise on TV.... 'Where there's blame there's a claim'.
It's almost a cottage industry.
Whoever it was did this is just asking for and inviting expensive trouble.

I agree KK.

Whoever it was that did this is just asking for and inviting expensive trouble. Of course, the way the PM community seem to be operating these days, even such blatent mis-conduct seems to be 'covered up,' excused, and those who make comment, crticise or try to complain, especially to those in the PM community, are the ones that are ostracised.

David Thompson's Admin has claimed that they are aware of "another" medium being the culprit, but if so, have they advised the person who brought the matter to their attention to make a formal complaint to the appropriate authorities?

If David Thompson is, as he claims, an honest and genuine medium, surely he too has a responsibility to make the name of the culprit known so that others may be warned against potential harm.

Because I firmly believe in genuine PM I have all sorts of issues with 'phenomena-to-order for silly money' commercial PM.
Whatever some of the shady characters involved in that seedy trade get up to doesn't surprise me at all Lis. Not to be ill wishing anybody but if someone does come unstuck by doing what has been described on here then they will have brought it on themself.

Lis wrote:Zerdini has received the following unsolicited email from a doctor in Australia:

“You do wonderful work with the forum; I, for one, appreciate integrity and scholarship and you have demonstrated both in abundance. I still hold out the hope that I will one day experience outstanding genuine materialisation mediumship first hand. The Alec Harris sittings have particular resonance for my mother to this day.

"Her Red Indian guide materialised at the sitting, enfolded her in his cloak, picked her up and twirled her around the room. He remarked that he wished her to experience how strong he was and that he would always protect her. A year later my mother was involved in a tragic car accident that claimed the life of my brother. Her car was flattened. She emerged unscathed.

"My father was also present at the sitting and a man appeared, approached him, and spoke in his ear. Before dematerialising, the being hugged my father and wept on his shoulder. He turned out to be an uncle who was "killed" by the Nazis during a raid. The information he disclosed to my father was known only to him, including specific nicknames of various family members.

“After my brother's death he communicated through Mona van der Watt! in ways that my mother has never forgotten. Interesting, the common links between your experiences with spiritualist luminaries and my families'!

“I have unfortunately since encountered much disappointment with current "proponents" of mediumship who seem to lack quality and integrity. I had an extremely off putting experience with David Thomson last year which was nothing short of farcical, including witnessing him dispensing medical advice which was inaccurate, illogical and dangerous. He had no knowledge that I was a medical practitioner, so it was extremely revealing. I had expected to witness a materialisation in the fashion of Alec Harris who my parents attended in Johannesburg in the 60's - safe to say it was nothing of the kind.

All the best and thank you for your work,

Name withheld for medical reasons

the bit I don't get about this email is... "I had expected to witness a materialisation in the fashion of Alec Harris who my parents attended in Johannesburg in the 60's"
Dave Thompson's seances have been reported and commented on for years both on the net and in magazines and as far as I know there's been no mention of Dave's circle producing full walking, talking materializations in the light. I'm sure the doctor would have taken a bit of time researching the reports before parting with his well earned lolly...

Perhaps he simply assumed that materialisation mediumship actually mean being able to see something, like his Mother apparently did?

I had expected to witness a materialisation in the fashion of Alec Harris who my parents attended in Johannesburg in the 60's - safe to say it was nothing of the kind.

Interesting point Nick, now Z should be able to enlighten us because of course, as he says, he attended some Alec Harris seances and lived in South Africa.

We have asked for some information about this but received no confirmation. I am well aware that William Charles Cadwell, David Thompson's purported guide, who's existence is not real, in the terms of his physical existence, as he and Mr Thompson claim, mis represented claims about the use of Aspirin. We also know that DT's Trance healers have got things terribly wrong, however, you are well and truy right, never has there been a claim by DT that he is capable of producing Alec Harris type materialisations.

Of course any materialisation, in the total blackout conditions required, or with dubious photography is a total waste of time.

Jim

I quite agree, David Thompson does not, and has not ever suggested he was, as a physical medium, able to produce that level of genuine materialisation that the greats of the past did, although, of course, he, or his circle of the silver cord has, on his behalf, from time to time, conveyed that this was a level of mediumship that David was working towards and would almost certainly achieve at some point in the future.

He has, however, most certainly claimed that he was a 'materialization medium' in the sense that spirit entities, or as Victor Zammit so liked to call them, 'etherean's,' could and did 'materialize' in the totally darkened conditions of Thompson's seances, and demonstrated that fact by their stomping on pieces of wood placed on the floor in the center of the seance, or by touching sitters as they in their 'materialized' state moved about the room, etc.

Of course, the apparently independent voice of David's main control 'William Charles Cadwell' must also be taken into consideration as he, in his 'materialized' state, speaks to the sitters, as do also all those famous personalities from the past like Louis Armstrong, 'Quentin Crisp,' Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Gordon Higginson, etc.

But for me, the real point of the post relating the Australian doctor's experience, is not their apparently unrealistic expectation that they would experience something at the same level as that of Alec Harris, but rather that they, as a medical practitioner witnessed David Thompson (or perhaps more accurately, one of David's controls) "dispensing medical advice which was inaccurate, illogical and dangerous."

Now David, or his representative from the circle of the silver cord, or at least that which exists from the group by that name that once operated, have stated, and quite emphatically, that the allegations made are wrongly attributed to David Thompson and belong to another medium.

While we await final confirmation, confirmation that would be most welcome in settling this matter, I have heard the word 'about town' as it were, is that the seance in question may have taken place in Melbourne, and was, if the rumour proves correct, most definitely a David Thompson seance.

Of course, unless the good doctor in question is prepared to come out and state for the public record that it was David Thompson, and that it was a seance held in Melbourne where they believe medical advice that was inaccurate, illogical and dangerous was given out by Thompson, or one of his controls, the matter must remain one of conjecture, and we should be wary of judging or condemning any medium when conjecture is all that we have.

Lis wrote:
But for me, the real point of the post relating the Australian doctor's experience, is not their apparently unrealistic expectation that they would experience something at the same level as that of Alec Harris, but rather that they, as a medical practitioner witnessed David Thompson (or perhaps more accurately, one of David's controls) "dispensing medical advice which was inaccurate, illogical and dangerous."

Quite right. Though why he shouldn't expect something advertised as 'materialisation' to be similar to something he has already witnessed I don't know - I'd probably expect something similar unless told otherwise explicitly.

Lis wrote:Of course, unless the good doctor in question is prepared to come out and state for the public record that it was David Thompson, and that it was a seance held in Melbourne where they believe medical advice that was inaccurate, illogical and dangerous was given out by Thompson, or one of his controls, the matter must remain one of conjecture, and we should be wary of judging or condemning any medium when conjecture is all that we have.

I think this information or something comparable has been in the public domain for some time. I don't know that the report is from the same source though.

T