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An Australian psychologist charged with indecently assaulting a patient told a court on Tuesday that forcing his female patient to wear a dog collar and call him master was within a psychologist’s ethical guidelines.
Psychologist Bruce Beaton, 64, pleaded not guilty in the Western Australia District Court to four charges of indecently assaulting a 22-year-old woman in 2005, local media reported.
Beaton was arrested when police, who had been secretly video recording the session with the woman, heard whipping sounds, reported Australian Associated Press from the court.
Beaton told the court he resorted to master-servant treatment with his bulimic patient because other methods had failed. He said he thought forcing the woman to wear a dog collar and call him master would build a more trusting relationship.
He said such treatment was allowed by the Australian Psychological Society. “It is right within the ethical guidelines,” Beaton told the court.
“I …
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HONOLULU - Real estate is often a long-term investment. But 10,000 years? Lo’ihi Development Co. will soon start offering oceanview lots speculators won’t even be able to stand on for many millennia. That’s because they’re currently submerged more than 3,000 feet below sea level — on an underwater volcano called Lo’ihi, located about 20 miles southeast of the Big Island.
His Web site will be renovated in the next couple of weeks to officially begin selling parcels for an introductory price of $39.95. Buyers will receive a brochure and a “deed,” but much like Internet groups that claim to sell stars, they probably can’t call themselves owners.
“What’s the scam?” said Norm Nichols, co-developer of the online venture. “If you really think there’s something here that you can’t live with, nobody’s forcing you to buy it. It’s meant to be fun.”
The Web site advertises, “Lo’ihi Seaview Estates: …
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SINGAPORE - Think you deserve a throne? A U.S. plumbing firm has created a luxury toilet equipped with laptop computer and flat-screen TV which it plans to give away in an online sweepstake.
Ohio-based Roto-Rooter says its “Pimped Out John” is designed to “fulfil all your wildest bathroom dreams”. Special features include an iPod music player and speakers, an
Xbox video game console, a refrigerator filled with drinks and snacks and a cycling exercise machine.
“The bathroom is the perfect place for your very own throne. It shouldn’t always be regarded as the room of last resort,” said Steven Pollyea, Roto-Rooter vice president of marketing, in a press release emailed to Reuters.
“The average person spends 11,862 hours in the bathroom, which equals one year, four months and five days in a lifetime… a toilet should be the most wonderful location in your home.”
Roto-Rooter spokesman Paul Abrams said the …
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BOSTON — Lavender and tea tree oils found in some shampoos, soaps and lotions can temporarily leave boys with enlarged breasts in rare cases, apparently by disrupting their hormonal balance, a preliminary study suggests.
While advising parents to consider the possible risk, several hormone experts emphasized that the problem appears to happen infrequently and clears up when the oils are no longer used. None of those interviewed called for a ban on sales.
The study reported on the condition, gynecomastia, in three boys ages 4, 7 and 10. They all went back to normal when they stopped using skin lotions, hair gel, shampoo or soap with the natural oils.
It’s unclear how often this problem might crop up in other young children.
These plant oils, sometimes called “essential oils,” are added to many health-care products, usually for their scent. The oils are sometimes found in other household products or …