*Bill Sohan - healing by post

Bill Sohan advertises his services in Nexus Magazine, claiming that he can heal people and animals at a distance.

UPDATE, 4th May: ASA report " The advertiser has provided a written assurance that the ad will be amended to remove the reference to 'DISTANT … ' healing."

(Image credit)

His website helpfully clarifies that, although the service is free, "contributions of any size are most gratefully received. Cheques should be made payable to P.Sohan (and not Bill Sohan)."

Standard ASA complaint follows.

"I write to complain about an advert published in Nexus Magazine, Vol. 17, No. 2 (February-March 2010).

The advert, for Bill Sohan, is entitled "DISTANT HEALING".

I have submitted a scan of the advert. I can provide an original copy of the advert by post, if required.

I suspect that the advert is in breach of two sections of the British Code of Advertising, Sales Promotion and Direct Marketing (CAP) code.

1. Nexus Magazine is published in the UK "under licence by Nexus Magazine (UK) Ltd". It is available in high street shops like WH Smiths.

2. The February-March 2010 issue (Vol. 17, No. 2, page 77) carried a classified advert entitled "DISTANT HEALING". The advert promotes a healing-by-post service.

3. The CAP Code, Section 3.1, states "Before distributing or submitting a marketing communication for publication, marketers must hold documentary evidence to prove all claims, whether direct or implied, that are capable of objective substantiation."

4. The CAP Code, Section 50.1, states "Medical and scientific claims made about beauty and health-related products should be backed by evidence, where appropriate consisting of trials conducted on people..."

5. I challenge whether Bill Sohan holds documentary evidence for his claim that he can heal humans and animals at a distance, and I challenge whether his claim is backed by appropriate evidence consisting of trials conducted on people.

6. I confirm that I have no connections with the advertiser, Nexus Magazine, or with the publishing industry in general. I confirm that I am not involved in legal proceedings with the advertiser or Nexus Magazine.

7. I confirm that I am happy to be identified as the complainant."