#318: David J. Pesek (and the “Quantum University”)

David Pesek is a rather infamous woo practitioner who panders the most ridiculous treatments. He has a “clinical practice in nutrition, tissue cleansing programs and psychology utilizing iridology”, and is the director of the International Institute of Iridology, the president of the American College of Iridology, and board advisor for the InternationalCollege of Iridology. It is a little unclear what the difference between iridology and “holistic iridology” amounts to, but I suppose “psychology utilizing iridology” may give you a clue. It sounds not so much like phrenology as it does palm reading with the help of crystal balls:

“Over decades of clinical experience and research, I have come to the conclusion: ‘The iris, sclera and pupil of the eyes show the veil the soul has created, through consciousness (or forgetfulness), that reflects the illusion which prepares the soul for attaining the reality of full enlightenment.’ Simply stated, this means that we are spiritual beings having a human experience. And the eyes are windows that open into our personal growth along our spiritual journey.”

Strangely, he cited no peer reviewed papers produced by his “clinical research”. One suspects that he does not really think he knows what “clinical” means. Nor “research” (confirmation bias applied to anecdotal evidence does not count as research).

You can read more about his practice on the newconnexion website (the advertisements are themselves … interesting: when I last checked it, they recommended “clairvoyant readings for pets” by Shirley Scott; “phrophecies for the coming utopian age” by Susan B. Martinez; get “free Tibetan crystals” from Crystal Hearts books; “astromark astrology” by Mark Dodich; and to “sign up to receive FREE monthly astro-updates” from VirgoMagic, Emily Trinkaus).

If you pay shitloads of money, you can participate in an online course with Pesek offered by “Quantum University” (the name of said university being, obviously, an illustration of endless ignorance, stupidity, misleadingness and unintentional hilarity). In addition to Pesek, the university offers some pretty scary crackpottery, however, such as Louis Swartswalter’s course on ADD – yes, it involves “quantum biofeedback” (real Choprawoo) – and Gaetan Chevalier’s Quantum Biology course. 

Pesek is interestingly also faculty at the "University ofNatural Medicine”. It’s rather fitting that in addition to aromatherapy, homeopathy, herbal studies, and ayurvedic medicine, the “university” also offers a class dealing with “legal issues” by one Lawrence Wilson, based on his 15 years of experience as a holistic practitioner (he also teaches “tissue mineral & heavy metal hair analysis”, apparently).

Diagnosis: Quackwatch will certainly have enough to do for years to come, and so will those among the rest of us who take some responsibility for the future of humanity. Pesek and his ilk aren’t merely harmless fluffbunnies.