Delaware USA (AP) — The daughter of a Delaware pediatrician who has appeared on US national TV for his research on near-death experiences told investigators he “water boarded” her several times by holding her face under a running faucet.

An attorney for Dr Melvin Morse described the water boarding as an “attention-getter” by authorities, based on an allegation from an 11-year-old girl who had made a false abuse claim against a family member before.

“Whatever’s being described is not water boarding,” said Joe Hurley, who has not spoken to Morse since Tuesday’s arrests. “I think that’s an attention-getter. I’m not sure where that came from or how that developed.”

Morse and his wife, Pauline, were charged with several felony counts Tuesday based on the daughter’s claims. Acting upon a complaint by the Delaware attorney general’s office, state officials on Thursday ordered the emergency suspension of Morse’s medical licence.

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.

Water boarding simulates drowning and US interrogators have used it in the past on terrorism suspects. Many critics call it torture.

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.

Morse’s Web site, spiritualscientific.com, is strewn with commentary about God, love, family and death.

At the time of Tuesday’s arrest, Morse, 58, was out on bail on misdemeanor charges of assault and endangering the welfare of a child. Those charges stemmed from a July incident in which authorities allege Morse grabbed the 11-year-old by the ankle and, as her 6-year-old sister watched, dragged her across a gravel driveway, took her inside the family’s home and began spanking her.

When she was interviewed again Monday, the older girl told investigators that beginning in 2009, her father had disciplined her by what he told her was “water boarding.” State police said the girl was subjected to such punishment at least four times and that her mother witnessed some of the incidents but did not stop them.