The founder members of the UUKPS: Gary Mannion, Andy Porter and Nina Knowland
Update 24/3/09: Gary left the UUKPS for "personal reasons" soon after it was founded.
Looking for an authentic, ethical psychic surgeon? A new organisation rejoicing in the name of the Unity of UK Psychic Surgeons may be able to help you. But a closer look at the UUKPS reveals some familiar faces...
By Julia
So what does the UUKPS have to say for itself? It was only launched on the 15th of March 2008 so there isn't much on the website yet (http://www.ukpsychicsurgeons.org.uk/. However, there's enough to demonstrate that the UUKPS is a bit of a joke - not that there's anything funny about taking money for nothing, of course. The three founder members are none other than Gary Mannion, Nina Knowland and a newcomer to BadPsychics, Andy Porter, all of whom recently graced the front page of Psychic News! The bolding throughout this article is mine, the atrocious spelling and grammar is that of the UUKPS.
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The Unity of UK Psychic Surgeons is an Organization set up as a Governing body for Practitioners in Psychic Surgery. These Practitioners work at a very high standard of practice
The Governing body will oversee the practice of every Member to ensure they are genuine
The UUKPS makes it sound so incredibly easy! Psychical researchers have spent at least 120 years looking for proof that psychic phenomena are genuine. They have failed to find any conclusive evidence. Anyone who discovered just
one genuine psychic would earn themselves a Nobel Prize and overturn everything we know about science, philosophy and religion.
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Each member will be invited by the Panel to attend an interview. If the Panel agree the Practitioner will be on probation as a probationary Member until Professor Archie E Roy and Tricia Robertson are satisfied with the continuation of their research.
In that time they will be asked to fill out a questionnaire during their consultation and after treatment and later collect testimonials from their clients.
We ask that the Questionnaires and Testimonials will be sent into the Panel Head Office, where they will be forwarded to Professor Archie E Roy and Tricia Robertson.
If Professor Archie Roy and Tricia Robertson sound familiar it's because they've already been mentioned on BadPsychics. Professor Roy is Honorary Senior Research Fellow and Member of the Astronomy and Astrophysics Group at the University of Glasgow. He's also a firm believer in the supernatural. Tricia Robertson, who believes herself to be psychic, works for the university's Department of Adult and Continuing Education.
From Glasgow Unversity's list of DACE courses:
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An in depth study of psychical research
Paranormal phenomena do occur.
The course covers, in depth, the astonishingly wide spectrum of such phenomena. Psychical researchers have studied these events for over a century, resulting in pragmatic evidence as to their authenticity. This course examines the evidence, and the implications with respect to human personality, the latent abilities which we may possess and the possible survival of bodily death.Archie Roy BSc PhD FRSE FRAS FBIS and Tricia Robertson
http://www.gla.ac.uk:443/departments/adulteducation/index.php?SelectedSubject=Social+sciences&Selected Subheading=Psychology
Well, that simplifies matters - "paranormal phenemena do occur". I don't think Gary, Nina and Andy will have much difficulty in proving that their psychic gifts are genuine.
More about Roy and Robertson's idea of psychical research can be found here:
http://www.sspr.co.uk/They were involved in "testing" Nina Knowland, New Age healer and sock puppeteer - you may remember Knowland's claim that Roy and Robertson were working under the aegis of Glasgow University when in fact they were associated with PRISM (Psychical Research Involving Selected Mediums) and the Scottish Society for Psychical Research, both of which were founded by Professor Roy:
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Originally Posted by Nina's website -
My Healing success is such that I am part of a Research Study by Professor Archie E Roy and Tricia J Robertson who work from the University of Glasgow.
Ms Robertson rebuked Knowland for this:
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...this has nothing to do with the University of Glasgow. It is a project under the auspices of an organisation called Prism. ( London Based)Both Archie and I have a link with Glasgow Uni - but nothing to do with this project.
I have chastised her for her use of words on the site.
Tricia"
I wonder if Gary's mysterious comments to the effect that "another university" is interested in testing him are based on the misleading University of Glasgow connection? If this is the case I hope Ms Robertson sets the matter straight as she did with Nina Knowland.
Back to the UUKPS website:
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The Practice Of Psychic Surgey
We know that those of us through our practice of Intuitive Healing can get a "Non medical opinion" from our Spirit Surgeons but the Law is we cannot diagnose therefore we must withhold that knowledge for our own benefit and not impart it to our Client.
So you don't diagnose? That isn't the impression I get from some of the testimonials on Gary Mannion's sites.
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The Panel accept Spirit Surgeons work with Channels in different ways and that is accepted, providing they meet the requirements set down by the Panel for Unity of UK Psychic Surgeons.
Who is on the panel other than Roy and Robertson? Does the UUKPS not have even a token sceptic involved with testing?
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Be aware of good hygiene practice. Maintain personal hygiene standards as we work closely with Clients.
This is one of the few statements on the UUKPS site with which I wholeheartedly concur! If there's one thing worse than being conned by a psychic surgeon it's being conned by a smelly psychic surgeon.
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Be aware of the practice of washing hands (symbolically or physically) between Clients.
I think "physically" washing your hands would probably be most effective.
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The Panel will not accept the practice of Psychic Surgery whereby the removal of clothing is required.
I should think not!
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The Panel will not accept the practise of cutting the skin.
But psychic surgeons DON'T cut the skin. That's why they're called "psychic surgeons". The Filipino and Brazilian charlatans merely pretend to make incisions.
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The Panel suggests the Practitioner keep to a charge which is reasonable per condition.
How is this worked out?
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There is no time limit for Psychic Surgery as with conventional operations take different lengths of time.
There is no time limit because nothing actually happens.
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Psychic Surgeons work 10 times faster than conventional medical operations.
One operation could take 10 minutes while another could take up to an hour.
Again, who worked this out?
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The Law says we cannot promise a cure either verbally or through advertising.
You don't have to promise anything. A carefully worded insinuation has the same effect, as Mannion and Knowland are well aware.
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The Law through the Cancer Act 1939 forbids you to advertise or verbally promise or make claims of a cure for Cancer.
Psychic Surgeons are not Doctors so therefore must not diagnose or interfere with the Doctors advise on medical prescription drugs.
The Panel advises that Psychic Surgery Practitioner strongly urge their Client continue with any medical treatment and medication programme until advised to stop by their Doctor.
Gary Mannion's testimonials suggest that some people go to him as a last resort after rejecting conventional medicine. Three of his clients - Janet Mathews, Keith Banfield and Neil Ramsay - sought his help specifically to AVOID surgery.
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The Panel strongly urges the Practitioner to obtain appropriate written consent before offering contact healing.
Very wise. We all know what happened when Gary Mannion used Dr Gowri Motha's name as a reference without obtaining her written consent to do so.
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Our Testimonials speak for our achievements
NO, testimonials unsupported by the statements of real doctors who examined the patient both before and after "psychic surgery" are of no value as evidence.
Moving on:
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Disclamier
(*the spell check is your friend!*)
1. Psychic Surgeons are Healer’s not Doctor’s, we are not medically trained, therefore we do not diagnose .
Really? I think Gary should have a closer look at the wording of some of his testimonials. And is there a psychic cure for grocer's apostrophe?
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2. Practitioners strongly urge their Clients continue with any medical treatment and continue with their medication programme until advised by their doctor.
Yes, the very same doctors psychic surgeons and other woos rail against for pumping their patients full of "unnatural" chemicals. In the words of Andy Porter, "For those who are suffering, have tried
the western medical offerings in the form of drugs many of which are toxic to the human body, and require help, what is there to lose?"
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3. Practitioners never promise a cure, especially with Cancer, but we will do our very best for each and every Client.
Again, you don't have to promise anything. A carefully worded insinuation is the next best thing, as Mannion and Knowland know from personal experience.
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4. Practitioners may talk about the results from previous treatments.
Why not? It's easier than using semaphore.
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5. Our Testimonials are the evidence of the work we do.
Here we go again. Why are the woos incapable of grasping a simple fact? Testimonials by themselves are NOT evidence of anything.
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6. Psychic Surgery is Complementary and with some conditions Alternative.
Sceptic's definition of "complementary": will not work without being combined with mainstream medicine.
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7. We do not charge for our Healing, we charge for our time.
The old get-out clause. People making this claim might as well have the word "fraud" tattooed on their foreheads.
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8. Practitioners will always act in a professional manner. Ensuring Client confidentiality at all times, falling in with the legislation Act 1987.
Since when has "psychic surgery" been a profession?
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9. Practitioners will respect the trust placed with them by clients and shall not, under any circumstances abuse their position by taking advantage of personal, professional, financial, political or sexual favour or gain.
How can psychic surgeons NOT take advantage of their clients? They are offering worthless "treatment" for minor and self-limiting illnesses and being paid for it. No, wait a minute - they are paid for their
time, not their healing skills. So that's alright then.
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10. Practitioners must obtain permission from Clients to use their testimonials or make them available to the public.
It would be far more helpful if clients would ask their doctors to provide "before and after" statements about their health. And if Gary Mannion's testimonials are anything to go by, clients will be falling over themselves in their eagerness to attribute "cures" to their psychic surgeons.
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Organisation Research
The three founder members of this organisation are currently undergoing evaluation by respected the psychical researchers Tricia J Robertson and Professor Archie Roy, who , in turn make their report to a recognised charity named Prism. Prism was set up to evaluate claims of mediumship, in its many forms. To date three papers on this matter have been published in the peer reviewed Journal of the Society for Psychical Research, which is based in London. This study of claims of psychic surgery will span many years, but so far the results are very encouraging.
I'll bet they are, especially with Roy and Robertson in charge. And they won't be reporting to PRISM for the simple reason that it's been wound up:
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From the April 08 Psi Report ( magazine of the Scottish Society for Psychical Research):
"Due to the fact that many of the Prism council have departed in more ways than one, it has been decided to disband the organization. The small amount of money that Prism held is being distributed to ongoing projects and other similar organizations.
It is with pleasure that we have presented a cheque for £400.00 to the SSPR in the knowledge that they will use it wisely.
Tricia J. Robertson
Hon.Sec., Prism "
Back to the UUKPS:
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History
Psychic surgery is similar to congenial (I think you mean conventional!) medical surgery that you would receive in hospital, except with psychic surgery you are operated on by a "spiritual team" working through a physical living person , whereas in hospital you are operated on by a physical surgeon you can see and talk to!
Another rather important difference is that a conventional surgeon (who may or may not be "congenial") actually
operates, whilst a UUKPS psychic surgeon merely massages/manipulates the affected area.
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Psychic Surgery is not a new alternative therapy, it has been around since 1940's and was first pioneered in the Philippines. Many psychic surgeons are currently working in the world today, the most famous of which is the healer known as Jaeo De Deus "John of God". Much has been written about his work and can be found from google
Unfortunately there are indeed many psychic surgeons, and they are amongst the most thoroughly debunked and despicable fraudsters in the world of woo. John of God is one of the worst offenders. Here's Google's sixth hit on his name:
http://skepdic.com/johnofgod.htmlYou may remember that Gary Mannion spoke favourably of John of God at his "demonstration of psychic surgery" at St James Church, Piccadilly, last month. Nina Knowland also listed him as one of her spiritual mentors, a motley crew which included Sai Baba:
http://www.skepdic.com/saibaba.html...and Stephen Turoff:
http://skepdic.com/psurgery.htmlDespite the sanitized version of psychic surgery practiced by the member of UUKPS - no phoney incisions, no fake blood, no chicken guts or surgical waste - it's clear that they still associate themselves with and bask in the reflected "glory" of the Filipino conmen. The UUKPS is peddling nonsense to sick and gullible people.
Some useful links:http://moh2005.proboards78.com/index.cgi?board=homeo&action=display&thread=3546http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychic_surgeryhttp://www.csicop.org/si/2007-05/nickell.html 
