– The turmoil surrounding Princess Märtha Louise and Durek Verrett became part of the discussion in the federation’s board because we are concerned with school medicine, says federation leader Bente Nordahl Langsø of the Norwegian Epilepsy Association to news. – As a patient organisation, we are keen to work closely with professionals and promote what is scientifically proven. What Durek Verrett conveys is against our ethics. Princess Märtha Louise had been the Epilepsy Association’s patron for several years. An organization is usually awarded a patronage and royal splendor for five years at a time. When that period has expired, the organization can apply for the patronage to continue. The Epilepsy Association chose not to do it when the term expired in 2020. It did not want to extend Now the association confirms that the criticism surrounding the princess couple was one of the factors that caused them to end the collaboration. General secretary Bente Nordahl Langsø confirms that the unrest surrounding Durek Verrett’s controversial statements is among the reasons why the princess is no longer the union’s patron. Photo: The Epilepsy Association – There was a debate in the board related to whether royal recognition will promote our cause. At this point, the federal board chose not to apply for a new patronage, says Langsø. She clarifies that the union distinguishes between the princess and Verrett, and that it was an overall assessment by the board that was behind the decision. news has asked the royal house for a comment on the fact that the noise surrounding the princess couple was among the reasons why the Epilepsy Association did not apply for an extension. “During our routine review of royal patronage in 2020, we registered that the Epilepsy Association did not apply for an extension of Princess Märtha Louise’s patronage,” writes Guri Varpe, head of communications at the Royal Court to news. Princess Märtha Louise is currently patron of seven organizations or associations. Among them is the Association for the Blind, and on Wednesday the princess opened their new facility for guide dogs. Photo: Lise Åserud / NTB – Life-threatening message Before the Epilepsy Association broke with Princess Märtha Louise in 2020, they had already in 2019 – while the princess was then the association’s patron – publicly criticized Durek Verrett and warned against the alternative treatment methods he promoted. It was shortly after it became known in the spring of 2019 that Princess Märtha Louise and Verrett were lovers, and they were going on a tour with self-realization lectures. Verrett, or shaman Durek as he calls himself, had said, among other things, that he can help people get well as long as they open up to it themselves, and that with his shamanic techniques he can “cleanse the body” of accumulated poison. Assistant General Secretary Jørn Sibeko now elaborates on the Epilepsy Association’s view. – Many of our members have severe epilepsy, and some have to live with side effects that reduce the quality of life in order to have some degree of control over the seizures, he says. – Of course, a message that this can be solved with a crystal or medallion or homeopathic remedies can be alluring, but it is also a message that is life-threatening. There are a number of examples of people who have died after discontinuing (stopping) medication on their own without being guided by a doctor. Medallion storm Recently, there has been a storm around Verrett, who is now engaged to Princess Märtha Louise, again. The background is that Verrett claimed he refused hospital treatment and that instead a medallion helped him recover from corona infection. He sells the same medallion on his website for more than NOK 2,000. In a video on Instagram, Durek Verrett told his over 260,000 followers that he had used a medallion to recover from corona. Photo: Screenshot from Durek Verrett’s Instagram When the royal couple were on a county tour in Møre and Romsdal last week, they commented for the first time on their future son-in-law’s controversial statements. King Harald then boasted of the Norwegian healthcare system and also said that they will talk to Verrett. When Princess Märtha Louise and Durek Verrett were interviewed by TV 2 a few days later, the princess said that they had not yet spoken to the king after his comment. Today, Princess Märtha Louise was out on a mission for the royal house and opened the Association of the Blind’s new facility for guide dogs. The Blindeforbundet is another organization the princess is a patron of. While the princess only wanted to talk about guide dogs, the press wanted to know if the dialogue with the king was ongoing. But the princess refused to answer questions about Verrett. Patron for seven associations Princess Märtha Louise is as of today the patron of these organisations: The Association for Muscular Dystrophy Hearing Impaired National Association of Norway The Blind Association of Norway The Norwegian Association of the Deaf Norwegian Rheumatism Association Riderrennet Vivil Games None of them have plans to stop their collaboration with the princess now. Princess Märtha Louise’s press contact Carina Scheele Carlsen refers to Durek Verrett’s press contact, who has not yet responded to news’s inquiry.
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Ended collaboration with Princess Märtha Louise after Durek criticism – news Norway – Overview of news from various parts of the country
