# Leading Australian university backs research by members of a "dangerous cult" **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 16, 2019, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leading-australian-university-backs-research-by-members-of-a-dangerous-cult/831229 "2019-03-16T17:24:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2019, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leading-australian-university-backs-research-by-members-of-a-dangerous-cult/831229/1 "2019-03-16T17:24:45Z")
The University of Queensland won’t move to retract studies conducting by members of “Universal Medicine”, who failed to divulge they were “devotees” of the group. \*"A 10-month investigation by the University of Queensland (UQ) has cleared the researchers of academic misconduct despite finding they did not fully detail their involvement with Universal Medicine (UM). The studies were published in overseas journals and explored the benefits of UM treatments including “esoteric breast massage” and proposed clinical studies in Vietnamese hospitals that would be forbidden in Australia. UM, which according to the researchers has 700, mainly female, followers in 15 countries was founded by Serge Benhayon a former bankrupt tennis coach-turned multi-millionare with no medical qualifications who claims to be the reincarnation of Leonardo Da Vinci."\* > **[Qld university stands by health studies done by devotees of 'dangerous cult'](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-03-15/universal-medicine-health-studies-wont-be-pulled-by-uq/10896690)** > > A top Australian university stands by studies into the health benefits of a group that a jury found was a "dangerous cult" making false healing claims, despite its own medical researchers failing to disclose they were devotees. More on the court case [here](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-11-05/universal-medicine-cult-preyed-on-cancer-victim-jury-finds/10381432). A case could be made that no one involved with this outfit should ever be allowed to conduct research under university auspices or even be on the faculty of UQ, but the university apparently doesn’t care. Disgusting. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2019, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leading-australian-university-backs-research-by-members-of-a-dangerous-cult/831229/2 "2019-03-16T20:10:30Z")
I’ve seen that on YouTube! (Oh, wait–I thought you said [esoteric _beast_ massage](https://youtube.com/watch?v=L4ttVP2cyK4).) ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2019, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leading-australian-university-backs-research-by-members-of-a-dangerous-cult/831229/3 "2019-03-16T23:01:52Z")
This Benhayon is one esoteric dude (and [humble](https://www.sergebenhayon.com/), too). He got his epiphany about spiritual healing while sitting on a toilet. > [@Benhayon](#): > > I just gave myself a time to sit and feel that moment and I could feel something really, really beautiful Benhayon reportedly refers to himself as the “Ascended Master” and “One of The Hierarchy”. Adding to the University of Queensland’s embarrassment, it turns out that a couple years ago a physician serving as a senior lecturer there was reprimanded by a medical council for referring a patient with a chronic cough for [“esoteric lung massage”](https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/may/31/doctor-rebuked-over-spiritual-healing-group-touting-esoteric-breast-massage)\* by a [del]cult[/del] Universal Medicine practitioner. :dubious: \*only $70, such a bargain. \*\*the patient also received a “chakra puncture”. ---
**Author:** ![HelenGawn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a88e4f/32.png) [@HelenGawn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HelenGawn)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2019, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leading-australian-university-backs-research-by-members-of-a-dangerous-cult/831229/4 "2019-03-16T23:33:52Z")
That’s why I never go anywhere without a chakra patch kit. Just remember to apply the chakra cement to both sides and let it dry. ---
**Author:** ![Nawth\_Chucka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2019, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leading-australian-university-backs-research-by-members-of-a-dangerous-cult/831229/5 "2019-03-17T04:38:37Z")
> [@HelenGawn](#): > > That’s why I never go anywhere without a chakra patch kit. Just remember to apply the chakra cement to both sides and let it dry. Do not taunt Happy Chakra Cement. ---
**Author:** ![Asuka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2019, 7:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leading-australian-university-backs-research-by-members-of-a-dangerous-cult/831229/6 "2019-03-17T07:42:13Z")
Does anyone know where I can find videos practicing “esoteric breast massage”? You know, for reference purposes. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2019, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leading-australian-university-backs-research-by-members-of-a-dangerous-cult/831229/7 "2019-03-17T13:53:41Z")
You could try the videos [here](https://factsaboutuniversalmedicine.wordpress.com/2016/06/07/serge-benhayon-defends-his-scam-esoteric-breast-massage/).