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What's the harm in hypnosis?
Hypnosis can be fun as part of a live entertainment. But when it is used as part of therapy or court proceedings, bad things can happen. Read more about hypnosis
Here are 6 people who were harmed by someone not thinking critically.
Patricia BurgusAge: 41 |
False memories induced, $10.6M judgement |
| She said her therapist convinced her she had repressed memories of being part of a satanic cult by using hypnosis and other techniques. She eventually received $10.6 million in a settlement. Read more | |
Edward HonakerNelson County, Virginia |
Wrongly convicted, 9.5 years in prison |
| He was convicted of a crime solely based on eyewitness testimony. Prosecutors withheld the fact that they used hypnosis to "enhance" that testimony. This is not allowed in court. A DNA test exonerated him years later and he received a full pardon. Read more & more | |
Larry MayesAge: 32 |
Wrongly convicted, 18 years in prison |
| He was wrongly convicted of rape via an eyewitness misidentification. It was not revealed at trial that the witness had been hypnotized for the identification. This is not allowed in court. He was exonerated by DNA evidence and awarded $9 Million. Read more & more & more | |
Mary SommerfeldArden Hills, Minnesota |
False memories, $175K damages |
| She sought treatment for trauma from abuse as a child. The therapist allegedly used guided imagery, dream interpretation, hypnosis and other tactics to induce false memories of ritual cult abuse & incest. She sued, the case was settled out of court. Read more | |
Leo WatersAge: 35 |
Wrongly convicted, 21 years in prison |
| He was convicted of a crime based on eyewitness testimony, bolstered by hypnosis. A DNA test exonerated him, but only after he served 21 years in prison. He received a pardon and compensation from the state. Read more | |
Glen WoodallHuntington, West Virginia |
Wrongfully convicted, 4.5 years in prison |
| He was found guilty based on eyewitness testimony from witnesses that were secretly hypnotized. He served years in prison before being exonerated by DNA tests which proved he could not have been the perpetrator. Read more | |