Media Misconduct Targeting Martin Ladouceur, Professional Healer in Quebec — A Case of Ethical Journalism Failure

For over fifteen years, I have practiced in Quebec as a professional healer specializing in therapeutic magnetism, vibrational medicine, and fire-cutting interventions. My work is based on clinical observation and complementary care, always conducted in full respect of established medical supervision. I have never made a medical diagnosis, never prescribed treatment, and never encouraged anyone to interrupt ongoing care. My approach has always been transparent, ethical, and documented. Yet, in 2023, I found myself at the center of a media controversy that illustrates what I now describe as a troubling example of trap journalism — a sequence carefully staged to create confrontation rather than inform the public.

The incident began when a woman using a pseudonym contacted me, claiming to be interested in mentorship related to meditation and visualization — a topic unrelated to my usual practice of therapeutic magnetism. Wanting to remain open and courteous, I accepted a brief private video conference to discuss the subject. During the conversation, the woman’s image suddenly disappeared. Without warning, journalist Denis Therriault from TVA’s program JE appeared on screen and accused me of illegally practicing medicine. This situation had been orchestrated from the start. No patient had ever filed a complaint, no clinical irregularity had been reported, and no legal investigation was in progress. The entire exchange was designed to capture a moment of tension for television purposes, rather than to uncover the truth.

Despite the surprise, I remained composed and reiterated that I am not a doctor, that my interventions are complementary, and that they are never intended to replace medical care. I also emphasized that in several countries, including France, Switzerland, and the United States, collaborations already exist between hospitals and professional healers or magnetism practitioners. These partnerships are recognized in contexts such as burn recovery, oncology support, and pain management. A few days after this staged exchange, the journalist reached out again, claiming he wanted to clarify my position before the episode aired. I took this opportunity to send him a complete and well-documented file, including my professional ethics charter, testimonials from physicians, and several reports and studies demonstrating the integration of healers and magnetizers in medical institutions. The documents were sourced, verifiable, and directly relevant to the discussion.

When the broadcast finally aired, none of this material was included. The editing presented only a brief and biased extract, stripped of all context and omitting any international reference or factual comparison. Shortly afterward, the Journal de Montréal published an article repeating the accusations, with a misleading headline that suggested a conviction that never existed. I immediately offered to provide an interview to present my side of the story and to submit the same documentation shared with the television journalist. I received no reply. The silence that followed had professional consequences, but also personal ones. My children saw their father portrayed publicly in an unjust light and had to endure the consequences of others’ judgments based on a distorted narrative.

This event exposes a serious ethical problem in certain branches of journalism today. When the race for audience ratings replaces careful fact-checking, when dramatization takes precedence over genuine investigation, and when opposing viewpoints are ignored, journalism loses its integrity. The fundamental principles that should guide any serious report — transparency of purpose, balance of perspectives, verification through multiple sources, and awareness of human impact — were simply not respected. What was broadcast was not an inquiry but a performance, with a predetermined narrative that left no room for truth.

Professional healer in Quebec

I am publishing this account not out of resentment, but to reestablish the facts and to defend the principles of ethical journalism. A practice such as mine, rooted in observation, discipline, and compassion, deserves to be understood rather than caricatured. My interventions are legal, ethical, and traceable. They are part of a long-standing tradition of complementary approaches that, when practiced responsibly, can coexist with modern medicine in the interest of human well-being. I remain open to dialogue with any journalist, researcher, or institution genuinely interested in studying these practices with seriousness, respect, and methodological rigor.

The purpose of this testimony is not to settle scores but to contribute to restoring a sense of proportion and intellectual honesty to public debate. A society that values truth must also recognize the importance of accuracy and accountability in its media. The right to report must always be balanced by the duty to verify.

1. Dr. Danielle Tavernier – Thonon-les-Bains Hospital (France) Report on the collaboration between a doctor and a fire healer for the treatment of burns. URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hiRu50bAEg

2. Dr. Daniel Serin – Oncologist, Sainte-Catherine Institute (France) Testimonial on the effectiveness observed in some patients. URL: https://www.midilibre.fr/2018/04/03/avignon-le-constat-du-cancerologue-daniel-serin-sur-les-coupeurs-de-feu,1650049.php

3. Dr. David Servan-Schreiber – Physician-Researcher (USA) Analysis on the impact of certain complementary practices. URL: https://www.inexplore.com/articles/David-Servan-Schreiber-nous-parle-des-guerisseurs

4. L'OBS – France Article on the integration of healers into the Rodez hospital network. URL: https://www.nouvelobs.com/societe/20150224.OBS3272/a-rodez-les-guerisseurs-sont-des-soignants-comme-les-autres.html

5. La Dépêche – France Article on the gradual opening of medicine to complementary practices. URL: https://www.ladepeche.fr/article/2015/03/22/2071989-la-medecine-s-ouvre-aux-guerisseurs.html

6. Investigation by Stéphane Allix – France/USA: Collaboration between Dr. Lawrence Cohn (Harvard Medical School) and a healer during heart surgery. URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Be4nxKtmwNg&t=3s

7. Additional video testimonials URL:

Invitation to Rigorous and Ethical Journalistic Dialogue

I reaffirm today my full willingness to collaborate with any newsroom, journalist, or independent university researcher genuinely committed to rigorous, balanced, and ethical journalism.My intention has never been to avoid discussion or scrutiny, but rather to ensure that any future coverage of vibrational medicine and therapeutic magnetism is carried out with integrity, fairness, and factual accuracy.

I remain entirely open to serious dialogue with media professionals who uphold these principles — those who practice journalism as a search for truth, not spectacle.Unfortunately, my recent experience with Journal de Montréal and the JE program on TVA demonstrated the opposite: an example of editorial manipulation and ethical failure, where sensationalism took precedence over verification.

This appeal is therefore not a rejection of journalism, but an invitation to return to its core values — honesty, balance, and responsibility.I stand ready to participate in any transparent, evidence-based investigation that genuinely seeks to shed light on the complementary role of therapeutic magnetism and vibrational medicine within the broader landscape of health and human care.

Contact Martin Ladouceur

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Alternative healthcare: A right in danger.