Did Damian Sendler Break The Law?

Damian Sendler is a self-proclaimed award-winning Polish-American clinician sexologist and scientist trained in digital epidemiology. Sendler has been exposed by journalists for fabricating his credentials, including a false claim of having an MD and a PhD from Harvard. Sendler created a slick website and granted himself various titles, successfully publishing articles in academic literature and gaining a following in the media. Sendler's actions raise questions about the verification of credentials in both the media and academia, with potential implications for public safety. So, did Damian Sendler break the law? The answer is unclear, but his conduct has sparked legal challenges and scrutiny, highlighting the need for better safeguards to protect the public from fraudulent experts.

Did Damian Sendler practise without a licence?

Damian Sendler is a self-proclaimed "award-winning Polish-American clinician sexologist, the scholar of forensic and legal medicine, the scientist trained in digital epidemiology, and the media health expert personality." He has been quoted by more than a dozen online publications internationally about his unique research examining human sexual behaviour. Sendler has also been featured in reputable media outlets such as television, lifestyle magazines, print newspapers, and radio.

However, Sendler's educational background and professional qualifications have been called into question by investigative journalist Jennings Brown. Brown exposed that Sendler only held a bachelor's degree and was not trained or licensed in medicine, psychiatry, or sex therapy. Despite this, Sendler had built a fake career with a sophisticated website and clever self-promotion, even claiming to have received an MD and a PhD from Harvard.

In response to Brown's article, Sendler took down his website and threatened legal action. Sendler's website claimed he was being persecuted and had been deceived.

Following the scandal, many of Sendler's publications were retracted, and media stories that featured him were quietly deleted. Sendler's new website, which is now back up, no longer claims specific details about his degree but continues to refer to him as "Doctor".

So, did Damian Sendler practise without a licence?

Based on the information uncovered by Jennings Brown and other sources, it appears that Sendler did indeed practise without a licence. Sendler offered clinical, psychological consultations and therapy services to patients via his website, despite not having a licence to practise any form of psychotherapy or psychological consultations in the state of New York. In addition, Sendler's research, which involved human subjects, may not have been properly ethically reviewed due to the lack of a verifiable institutional review board (IRB) at his organisation.

Sendler's actions highlight the dangers of pretending to have medical and clinical expertise. It jeopardises public safety and promotes the idea that anyone can practise healthcare without specialised training.

Did Damian Sendler commit fraud?

Damian Sendler is a self-proclaimed "award-winning Polish-American clinician sexologist, the scholar of forensic and legal medicine, the scientist trained in digital epidemiology, and the media health expert personality." He has been quoted by several online publications internationally about his unique research examining human sexual behaviour. However, Sendler has been exposed as a fraud by investigative journalist Jennings Brown, who works for Gizmodo.

Sendler claimed to be a Harvard-trained M.D. and Ph.D. specialising in sexuality, forensics, and the prevention of self-harm. However, he only holds a bachelor's degree and is not trained or licensed in medicine, psychiatry, or sex therapy. Despite this, Sendler built a fake career, with a sophisticated website and clever self-promotion. He spent about a year as a highly sought-after media expert, interviewed in Forbes Magazine, and a host of other media sources.

Sendler's CV (since removed from his website) listed his title as "Dr." suggesting he has a medical or doctoral degree. In an interview with Brown, Sendler confirmed his credentials, stating, "I got into Harvard Medical School for MD, PhD, and Masters degree combined." However, Sendler does not have an MD, Ph.D., or any other graduate degree from Harvard. He worked in various Boston-based labs until mid-2015 and then moved to Poland for two years to pursue graduate and medical school training.

Sendler also created a fake institution, the Felnett Health Research Foundation, to support his research work. He claimed that the organisation was a “non-profit scientific organisation in public service” in Poland, but Polish government records show that it is not a public benefit organisation. Sendler listed himself as chairman of the board and provided additional board member names that could not be verified. The foundation's address is listed as a condo unit in Staten Island, New York, and there is no record of the organisation in New York State, where it is required by law to register.

Sendler also claimed to have received numerous awards and honours that he did not actually earn. For example, he stated on his website that he was one of the youngest elected members of the American Psychiatric Association and the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law, and that Barack Obama gave him a President's Gold Service Award for his contributions to medicine and mental health. All of these claims were fabricated.

In addition to misrepresenting his credentials and affiliations, Sendler also published several academic papers based on unethical or nonexistent research. One of his papers, "Digital Ethnography of Zoophilia—A Multinational Mixed-Methods Study," was retracted by the Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy due to concerns about the ethics approval for the research. Sendler also published studies on necrophilia, zoophilia, lethal erotic asphyxiation, and sexual assault, which were criticised as "bizarre and irresponsible."

Sendler's actions constitute fraud as he intentionally deceived others for personal gain. He misrepresented his qualifications and affiliations, fabricated awards and honours, and published unethical or nonexistent research to establish himself as an expert in his field. He used this false expertise to gain media attention, publish academic papers, and offer clinical services to vulnerable individuals.

Did Damian Sendler's actions cause harm?

Damian Sendler's actions have indeed caused harm. Sendler is a self-proclaimed "award-winning Polish-American clinician sexologist, the scholar of forensic and legal medicine, the scientist trained in digital epidemiology, and the media health expert personality." He has been quoted by more than a dozen online publications internationally about his unique research examining human sexual behaviour. However, according to Gizmodo journalist Jennings Brown, much of his professional résumé and background is a lie. Sendler has fabricated academic credentials, including a non-existent MD and Ph.D. from Harvard, and has falsely claimed to be a member of various professional organisations.

Sendler has also created a fake institution, the Felnett Health Research Foundation, to support his research work and add credibility to his false identity as a medical doctor. He serves as "chief of the division of clinical research" and is the "director of the European program on studying sexual minorities and health policy" at this fake foundation. Furthermore, Sendler has published several articles in academic journals, such as the Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy, The European Journal of Psychiatry, and The Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine, based on unethical and irresponsible studies on topics such as necrophilia, zoophilia, and sexual assault.

The harm caused by Sendler's actions is significant and far-reaching. Firstly, his deception has led to the publication of false and unethical research, which has likely caused reputational damage to the academic journals that published his work. Secondly, Sendler has misled the media and the public by presenting himself as an expert in the field of human sexuality. This has resulted in the dissemination of false and potentially harmful information to a wide audience. Additionally, Sendler has offered clinical, psychological consultations and sex therapy services to individuals, despite lacking the necessary qualifications and licenses to do so. This puts vulnerable individuals at risk of receiving inadequate or inappropriate treatment, which could have serious consequences for their mental and physical health.

Sendler's actions have also caused harm to the institutions and organisations he has falsely claimed to be affiliated with. For example, one of the schools he studied at while in Poland, the Medical University of Lublin, objected to him using their name on his study due to his misleading and false affiliations. Lastly, Sendler's actions have damaged the credibility and integrity of the fields of scientific research and media journalism. His bold and aggressive claims were accepted without question by both the academic press and the mainstream media, reflecting a concerning lack of scrutiny and verification of credentials.

In conclusion, Damian Sendler's actions have caused extensive harm by spreading false and unethical information, offering unqualified clinical services, damaging the reputations of institutions and organisations, and undermining the integrity of scientific research and media journalism. His actions highlight the importance of thorough verification of credentials and the need for stricter regulations to protect the public from such fraudulent individuals.

Did Damian Sendler's publications violate submission guidelines?

Damian Sendler's publications may have violated submission guidelines. Sendler, who claimed to be a Harvard-trained M.D. and Ph.D. specializing in sexuality, forensics, and the prevention of self-harm, was exposed by investigative journalist Jennings Brown as having only a bachelor's degree and no training or license in medicine, psychiatry, or sex therapy. Despite this, Sendler managed to publish articles in academic journals and was interviewed in several media sources, including Forbes Magazine.

Sendler's publications may have violated submission guidelines in several ways. Firstly, Sendler's lack of credentials and misrepresentation of his qualifications raise questions about the accuracy and integrity of his research. Sendler's studies on topics such as necrophilia, zoophilia, lethal erotic asphyxiation, and sexual assault were publicized in various media outlets, and he offered clinical services through his website, which could have posed a risk to public safety. Secondly, Sendler's publications may have violated guidelines regarding institutional affiliations. Sendler was affiliated with the Felnett Health Research Foundation, which he claimed was a non-profit scientific organization in public service. However, Polish government records indicate that Felnett is not a public benefit organization, and there are doubts about the existence of the foundation's staff and offices. This raises questions about the oversight and ethical review of Sendler's research, as it is unclear if an institutional review board (IRB) approved his studies.

Furthermore, Sendler's publications in academic journals may have violated submission guidelines by failing to meet the required standards for academic research. Sendler exaggerated his academic credentials, and there are doubts about whether he received IRB approval for his studies, as required by many journals. Sendler's publications in reputable journals, such as The Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy, The European Journal of Psychiatry, and The Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine, may have bypassed the typical peer-review process or involved a lapse in the editorial process.

Finally, Sendler's publications may have violated guidelines regarding the responsible conduct of research. Sendler's study on zoophilia, "Digital Ethnography of Zoophilia," was retracted by the Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy due to concerns about ethics approval. The retraction notice stated that the institutions listed in the ethics approval application form and the informed consent forms provided to participants contained incorrect information. This indicates that proper ethical approval was not granted for the research, which is a serious breach of research ethics.

In conclusion, Damian Sendler's publications may have violated submission guidelines in several ways, including concerns about his qualifications, institutional affiliations, ethical approval, and the accuracy and integrity of his research. The consequences of Sendler's actions extend beyond himself, as they highlight the need for more rigorous verification of credentials and adherence to submission guidelines in both the media and academic publishing.

Did Damian Sendler's research have ethical approval?

Damian Sendler's research did not have ethical approval. Sendler's paper, "Digital Ethnography of Zoophilia — A Multinational Mixed-Methods Study," was retracted by the Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy because "the institutions listed in the ethics approval application form and the informed consent forms provided to participants had incorrect information".

Sendler's research institute, Felnett Health Research Foundation, also appears to be a self-created organisation. Sendler is the chairman of the board and the only other board member is the vice-president, Mieczyslaw Gawel, who is a retired psychology professor. The foundation is registered to Sendler's condo unit in Staten Island, New York, and there is no record of the organisation in New York State, despite claims that it has "offices in New York and Warsaw".

Sendler's research involving human subjects may not have been subjected to any type of objective ethical review. It is possible that his institute lacks an Institutional Review Board (IRB), which would mean that his research did not undergo any ethical review by an independent board.

In addition to the lack of ethical approval, Sendler has also fabricated his credentials and affiliations. He claimed to have an MD and a PhD from Harvard, to be one of the youngest elected members of the American Psychiatric Association and the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law, and that he received a President's Gold Service Award from Barack Obama. All of these claims have been proven to be false. Sendler also created a fake organisation, Taublum Media, and conducted an interview with himself, further demonstrating his lack of ethics.

Frequently asked questions