Veteran Journalist Appears to have been Conned by Anti-

Universal Medicine Spin

THE OPINIONS of a discredited Byron businessman, a prolific “cyber-troll”, and a struggling amateur

comedian have underpinned News Ltd journalist Jane Hansen’s “exclusive” on northern NSW

complementary medicine business Universal Medicine, published on Sunday 22nd June.

The Sunday Telegraph story follows an eerily similar narrative to stories published by Fairfax Media

journalist Heath Aston, the Medical Observer’s Byron Kaye, and the Good Weekend’s David Leser in

2012.

Those stories highlighted the claims of a handful critics, of Universal Medicine while clearly

underplaying the legitimate counter claims of UM’s supporters, who include dozens of highly-

qualified healthcare professionals, lawyers, academics, and corporate leaders.

Hansen’s article revolves around a complaint lodged by discredited Byron Shire businessman Lance

Martin concerning Universal Medicine-inspired student-run charity, the College of Universal

Medicine, with the NSW Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing (OLGR) and the NSW Office of Fair

Trading,

Hansen reported that Liquor and Gaming was investigating Mr Martin’s complaint, and that it

contained “serious allegations” which had been referred to NSW Police.

A STATEMENT FROM COLLEGE OF UNIVERSAL MEDICINE REGARDING REPORTS

OF A COMPLAINT

Hansen subsequently revealed in an email correspondence with UM founder Serge Benhayon that she

was tipped off about the complaints by NSW Labor MP and Opposition Spokesman on Health,

Andrew McDonald, on June 12.

Footnote: Dr McDonald appears to share many of the opinions of and a close professional association

with UNSW Emeritus Professor John Dwyer, a long-time campaigner through lobby group, Friends of

Science in Medicine, against any form of complementary or “alternative” medicine courses being

taught in universities.

Professor Dwyer has criticised Universal Medicine in the media, despite appearing to gain most of his

expertise on the subject from journalists and Martin and co-campaigner Esther Rockett.

The remainder of the double-page spread airs the wholly negative views of Martin, anti-Universal

Medicine blogger Esther Rockett, and amateur comedian Matt Sutherland - who writes sketches in his

spare time satirising UM founder Serge Benhayon.

This is not the first time Mr Martin and Ms Rockett have gained the sympathetic ear of journalists and

politicians about Universal Medicine with cleverly written false allegations and complaints.

Martin and Rockett co-authored the Universal Medicine “cult press kit”, a 44 page document detailing

a litany of false and defamatory allegations.

The so-called “press kit” included such outlandish claims that Benhayon was performing covert

hypnosis, money laundering, tax-evading and a likely paedophile. The press kit offers journalists a

smorgasbord of tempting allegations for journalists to work with, but can’t be verified.

The numerous official complaints to government authorities by the pair, on the other hand, have

offered journalists the illusion of legitimacy.

The Medical Observer’s Byron Kaye reported on an “investigation” into Universal by the Therapeutic

Goods Association in 2012 - which was resolved with phone call by a Universal Medicine

representative – while Kaye and SMH reporter Heath Aston reported that UM was the subject of “three

complaints” to the NSW Health Care Complaints Commission (HCCC).

None of the HCCC complaints led to any adverse findings against UM. Despite Kaye writing a series

of articles on Universal Medicine over several months he failed to report this fact.

Earlier this year Universal Medicine students, defamed by Rockett and Martin’s allegations, launched

a blog about the pair.

Martin, who promotes himself in his “cult press kit” as having “single-handedly uncovered most of

UM’s harms”, is the subject of a detailed forensic examination in the blog, as is Rockett.

It was intended to warn journalists to at least balance the pair’s claims against theirs, and consider their

track-record so far.

But in Hansen’s case - despite a 30-year career in journalism - the warnings about Lance Martin and

Esther Rockett appear to have gone unheeded. She failed to adequately assess the credibility of her

sources.

She is one of the first female journalists to have written about Universal Medicine, but made no

attempt to interview Lance Martin or Matt Sutherland’s ex-partners, despite letting Martin and

Sutherland allege in print that their ex-partners had effectively been brainwashed by Benhayon’s

teachings.

Martin’s ex-partner, Anna Douglass has written a compelling account about her 18-year relationship

with Mr Martin and the real (everyday) reasons for their separation.

Sutherland’s ex-partner Sarah Baldwin professes to be more healthy and happy than she ever was,

engaged with a new partner and also running a very successful north coast cafe.

Ms Hansen may have thought twice about her narrative if she had done her due diligence and tracked

down these two women.

Meanwhile, acupuncturist and blogger Esther Rockett is featured in Hansen’s spread as the victim of a

“sleazy” “ovarian reading” by Serge Benhayon in 2005.

Ms Rockett is a prolific blogger who has since written under various pseudonyms, Venus Darkly,

Pranic Princess, and Nobody’s Bitch to make damaging claims about Universal Medicine.

The College Of Universal Medicine board member Charles Wilson, wrote in an appeal to the Sunday

Telegraph editor, that Rockett’s blog site contained: “empty boasts that she holds evidence of

misconduct that strangely she never produces, instead stooping shamelessly to the repetition of

innuendo and deliberately damaging and vile aspersions, including allegations of paedophilia.”

Yet despite her myriad of claims against Serge Benhayon, even Rockett - who has recently rebadged

herself a “health care activist” - has admitted there was “no inappropriate touching” in any of her

sessions in 2005.

Nevertheless, nine years after her sessions (and by her own confession inspired by Good Weekend

writer David Leser’s damaging innuendo-riddled profile on Benhayon) she decided that Universal

Medicine was a “cult”.

Martin and Rockett’s claims continue to entice journalists, and a small group of academics and

politicians, who appear game to swallow the pair’s slanted accounts about Universal Medicine,

defamatory claims and outlandish opinions.

After yesterday’s counter-article went to print on this site, Rockett blogged the following warning:

“… Something the cult might want to consider – we’ve had considerable more support – rather

influential support – since they made the mistake of defaming us. The consequences of which they

haven’t begun to imagine.”

Serge Benhayon has pointed out that if Universal Medicine really was a harmful cult, there would be

more than the same handful of characters trotted out by the media every time they write a story, stories

which feature nothing new save a newly lodged complaint.

If history is any indication, the complaint will again be found baseless by the relevant authorities.

Credit to Hansen, however, for at least giving Mr Benhayon more space than previous journalists to

put his own views forward.

“People are much smarter and wiser than some will like to accept. I hold and treat all to the fact that

they do know, and, hence, are capable of their own decisions.”

“I don’t look down at anyone, and especially not women.”

In correspondence between Benhayon and Hansen before the story went to print, he urged her to refer

to a series of “before and after” photos of Universal Medicine students.

BEFORE AND AFTER UNIVERSAL MEDICINE “Here you will see real life photos, the best

proof of all.”

“And inclusive of the amazing pictorial turnarounds is the real everyday living quality now enjoyed by

many hundreds of people, worldwide. Not bad from an Australian-based business pioneering factual

and sustainable results that are going against the global ill-health trend.”

“Perhaps this is the real story not yet told Ms Hansen -- the worldwide success of an Australian

business in the field of true health, relationship and lifestyle choices.”

Thanks for Reading....

For more info visit at: www.universalmedicine.com.au