Melvin L. Morse

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Melvin L. Morse
Born 1953
Sandy Springs, Maryland
Nationality United States
Occupation Pediatrician
Known for expert on the "near death experience"

Pediatrician Melvin Morse is widely described as an expert in near-death experiences.[1][2][3][4][5] Morse is the author of several books on the near death experience, in which he offers conclusions based on interviewing children who came close to dying. His 1991 book Closer to the Light was a bestseller. Oprah Winfrey interviewed Morse about this book in 1992. Larry King interviewed Morse in 2010. The PBS show Upon Reflection produced a half-hour episode devoted to Morse. He was the subject of an article in Rolling Stone Magazine, in 2004, entitled "In search of the Dead Zone".[6]

Personal life

Morse has been married twice, and has five children. In July 2012 Morse was accused of "waterboarding" his eleven year old daughter.[7][8][9][10][11][12][13]

Morse says he acquired hepatitis C from a patient, in 1998.[14] He filed for disability support in 2005. He owes tens of thousands of dollar in back taxes.

According to Morse's first wife, Alison Morse, their divorce and struggles for the custody of their adopted children was acrimonious, and left them both financially exhausted.[14] Alison Morse said that Morse had falsely accused their children of crimes. She said that during the last five years of their marraige he became increasingly angry and erratic and se never figured out why.[15]

Professional career

Morse earned his medical degree in 1980. [16] After completing his medical degree he specialized in pediatrics and neuro-oncology. From 1985 to 2007 Morse served on the medical faculty at the University of Washington.

Charged with subjecting his daughter to "waterboarding"

On July 12, 2012, Morse was investigated for child abuse.[17] Neighbors observed Morse dragging his eleven year old daughter out of the family car, by her ankles, when she refused to get out of her own accord. Neighbors observed him continue to drag her up the gravel driveway. When she was interviewed by child welfare authorities the girl reported that Morse had held her face under a running water faucet, so water entered her airways, and she experienced the first stages of drowning. She reported Morse called this "waterboarding", and told her that she wouldn't experience brain damage unless she was deprived of oxygen for more than five minutes. Morse was reported to have subjected her to this technique on multiple occasions.

Morse's attorney claimed his eleven year old daughter had previously claimed a half-sibling had abused her, only to recant that claim and admit she just didn't want him living in the family home.[8][18][10][19]

Publications

References

  1. Alex Tsarikis (2012-05-31). "Dr. Melvin Morse On Why Doctors Don’t Listen to Near-Death Experience Accounts". Skeptiko. Archived from the original on 2012-08-10. http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.skeptiko.com%2F172-melvin-morse-doctors-do-not-listen-to-near-death-experience-accounts%2F&date=2012-08-10. "Join Skeptiko host Alex Tsakiris for an interview with near-death experience research and author of, Closer to the Light, Dr. Melvin Morse. During the interview Morse discusses why science has not fully accepted the near-death experience:" 
  2. "Closer to the Light (Melvin Morse)". Upon Reflection. 1991. Archived from the original on 2012-08-10. http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.css.washington.edu%2Femc%2Ftitle%2F6000&date=2012-08-10. "Host Marcia Alvar speaks with Melvin Morse, Pediatrician and author of Closer to the Light: Learning from the Near Death Experiences of Children. They discuss the similarities of the stories of children who have had a near death experience: leaving the body, going down a tunnel or passageway, and moving towards a bright light." 
  3. J. Isamu Yamamoto (2009-06-09). "The Near Death Experience (Part Two)". Christian Research Institute. Archived from the original on 2012-08-10. http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.equip.org%2FPDF%2FDT082-1.pdf&date=2012-08-10. "Melvin Morse and his book certainly do deserve serious attention. As a physician, he has made two significant contributions to the subject of near-death experiences. First, he has provided professional insights into NDEs from a medical perspective. And second, his research was mainly conducted with children. Because his studies and observations gave the whole subject of NDEs a needed boost for the early nineties, Morse has frequently appeared before the media spotlight. For this reason also, the banner he is waving should be examined as well." 
  4. J. Isamu Yamamoto (2009-06-09). "The Near Death Experience (Part Two)". Christian Research Institute. Archived from the original on 2012-08-10. http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.equip.org%2Farticles%2Fthe-near-death-experience-part-two%2F&date=2012-08-10. "In the previous issue we examined common elements in the accounts of people who claim to have had near-death experiences. We focused primarily on the New Age interpretation of this phenomenon, surveying the work and writings of Raymond Moody, Kenneth Ring, and Melvin Morse. In this issue our discussion explores alternative explanations to those of the New Age movement for NDEs." 
  5. "Guest Speaker: Melvin Morse, MD, Where God Lives". Archived from the original on 2012-08-10. http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http%3A%2F%2Fchicagoiands.org%2Fmeetings%2F32&date=2012-08-10. 
  6. Randall Sullivan (2004-04-29). "In search of the Dead Zone". Rolling Stone. "Sullivan wrote about an intern named Melvin Morse… His work with near death children surprised him so that he became intriqued with their experiences and began a long term study… As he began to be confronted with the very real sense of a Person or Intelligence that children met on the other side, he said, “…I’m deliberately holding back from dealing with it, because I know that once I cross that line, I’m no longer a scientist.”" 
  7. "Melvin Morse, Delaware doctor, charged with felony counts for allegedly "waterboarding" daughter". CBS News. 2012-08-10. Archived from the original on 2012-08-10. http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cbsnews.com%2F8301-201_162-57490660%2Fmelvin-morse-delaware-doctor-charged-with-felony-counts-for-allegedly-waterboarding-daughter%2F&date=2012-08-10. "Morse, who has authored several books and articles on paranormal science and near-death experiences, has appeared on shows such as "Larry King Live" and the "The Oprah Winfrey Show" to discuss his research, which also has been featured on an episode of "Unsolved Mysteries" and in an article in "Rolling Stone" magazine." 
  8. 8.0 8.1 Randall Chase (2012-08-10). "Delaware doctor accused of 'waterboarding' daughter". Orlando Sentinel. Archived from the original on 2012-08-10. http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http%3A%2F%2Farticles.orlandosentinel.com%2F2012-08-10%2Fnews%2Fchi-delaware-doctor-accused-of-waterboarding-daughter-20120810_1_child-endangerment-charges-false-abuse-claim-delaware-doctor&date=2012-08-10. "Hurley, the attorney, said the 11-year-old has some "opposition issues" and had complained to her parents several years ago about being abused by a half-sibling. He said the parents contacted authorities and the half-sibling was arrested, but that the girl confessed months later that the incident never happened and that she just didn't want the half-sibling living in the house." 
  9. Sam Wood (2012-08-10). "Del. yanks license of doctor charged in ‘waterboarding’". Philadelphia Inquirer. Archived from the original on 2012-08-10. http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fnews%2Fbreaking%2F20120810_Del__yanks_license_of_doctor_charged_in_waterboarding.html&date=2012-08-10. "Melvin Morse, 58, poses a "clear and immediate danger to the public health," declared a filing published on the website of the Board of Medical Licensure and Discipline." 
  10. 10.0 10.1 "Delaware doctor arrested for 'waterboarding his daughter': A paediatrician has been arrested after allegedly waterboarding his 11-year-old daughter as a form of punishment.". The Telegraph (UK). 2012-08-07. Archived from the original on 2012-08-10. http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.telegraph.co.uk%2Fnews%2Fworldnews%2Fnorthamerica%2Fusa%2F9465920%2FDelaware-doctor-arrested-for-waterboarding-his-daughter.html&date=2012-08-10. ""Melvin would sometimes look away while he did it and [the girl] would become afraid that he would lose track of time and she would die," according to a police document seen by the News Journal, a Delaware newspaper. The girl also told police that Mrose had said she could be put under water for five minutes without suffering brain damage." 
  11. "Father waterboarded his daughter, 11, FOUR times while her mother stood by' - and he'd appeared on Oprah as expert on children's near-death experiences '". Daily Mail. 2012-08-09. Archived from the original on 2012-08-10. http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dailymail.co.uk%2Fnews%2Farticle-2185984%2FDr-Melvin-Morse-Pediatrician-appeared-Oprah-waterboarded-daughter-11-FOUR-times-punishment-mother-did-stop-it.html&date=2012-08-10. Retrieved 2012-08-10. "Dr Melvin Morse, a published author who has appeared on the Oprah Winfrey Show and Larry King, allegedly held the girl's face under a running faucet on four occasions for as long as five minutes." 
  12. Randall Chase (2012-08-15). "Near-death experiences doctor may have been experimenting by 'waterboarding' stepdaughter, police say". Fox News. http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/08/15/near-death-experiences-doctor-may-have-been-experimenting-by-waterboarding/. Retrieved 2012-09-15. "Based on his work involving children's near-death experiences, police suggested he may have been experimenting on her." 
  13. "Dad denies subjecting daughter to waterboarding". New Zealand Herald. 2012-08-17. Archived from the original on 2012-09-15. http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nzherald.co.nz%2Fworld%2Fnews%2Farticle.cfm%3Fc_id%3D2%26objectid%3D10827524&date=2012-09-15. "A US doctor today denied allegations of waterboarding his 11-year-old stepdaughter as part of his research into near-death experiences." 
  14. 14.0 14.1 "Records show troubles for waterboarding doctor". Omaha Herald. 2012-08-16. Archived from the original on 2012-09-15. http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.omaha.com%2Farticle%2F20120816%2FAP09%2F120819812&date=2012-09-15. "Morse’s ex-wife, Allison Morse, claimed her ex-husband has abused prescription drugs and made false accusations against their adopted children that have led to criminal charges against them." 
  15. Tracy Vedder (2012-09-09). "Former Seattle doc accused of waterboarding his daughter". KOMO News. Archived from the original on 2012-09-15. http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.komonews.com%2Fnews%2Flocal%2FFormer-Seattle-doc-accused-of-waterboarding-his-daughter-165669196.html&date=2012-09-15. "Morse's ex wife, Alison Morse, said on Thursday she isn't at all surprised about the recent news. The two were married for 20 years, and most of that time was spent in Puget Sound. She said she noticed Morse changing during the last five years of the marriage." 
  16. "Melvin L. Morse: Curriculum Vitae". Archived from the original on 2012-08-10. http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http%3A%2F%2Fspiritualscientific.com%2Fyahoo_site_admin%2Fassets%2Fdocs%2FCurriculum_Vitae.65195734.pdf&date=2012-08-10. 
  17. Brett Smiley (2012-08-09). "Delaware Doctor Arrested for Allegedly Waterboarding Daughter". New York Magazine. Archived from the original on 2012-08-10. http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnymag.com%2Fdaily%2Fintel%2F2012%2F08%2Fdelaware-doctor-melvin-morse-accused-waterboarding-daughter.html&date=2012-08-10. "The girl had contacted Delaware's Child Advocacy Center in the first place after a July 12 incident where Dr. Morse allegedly pulled his daughter out of a car, dragged her across a gravel driveway, and spanked her inside their home — for which Morse was charged with third-degree assault. The State has suspended the doctor's license and he is currently being held at a correctional institute on a $14,500 secured bond." 
  18. Sam Wood (2012-08-10). "Del. yanks license of doctor charged in ‘waterboarding’". Philadelphia Inquirer. Archived from the original on 2012-08-10. http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fnews%2Fbreaking%2F20120810_Del__yanks_license_of_doctor_charged_in_waterboarding.html&date=2012-08-10. "Melvin Morse, 58, poses a "clear and immediate danger to the public health," declared a filing published on the website of the Board of Medical Licensure and Discipline." 
  19. "Father waterboarded his daughter, 11, FOUR times while her mother stood by' - and he'd appeared on Oprah as expert on children's near-death experiences '". Daily Mail. 2012-08-09. Archived from the original on 2012-08-10. http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dailymail.co.uk%2Fnews%2Farticle-2185984%2FDr-Melvin-Morse-Pediatrician-appeared-Oprah-waterboarded-daughter-11-FOUR-times-punishment-mother-did-stop-it.html&date=2012-08-10. Retrieved 2012-08-10. "Dr Melvin Morse, a published author who has appeared on the Oprah Winfrey Show and Larry King, allegedly held the girl's face under a running faucet on four occasions for as long as five minutes."