Dr. Fritz is a controversial figure, one with a long history. The most controversial aspect of his existence? Whether he existed at all.

Starting with Ze Arigo in the 1950s, a series of Brazilian psychic surgeons claimed to be channeling a German surgeon named Adolf Fritz. Arigo became famous for his claims and his work, but died soon after predicting his own death. His followers, including Oscar and Edivaldo Wilde, Edson Queiroz, and Rubens Farias Jr., all claimed to channel Dr. Fritz, and all met violent ends.

During an interview with Arigo, in which he claimed to be channeling Dr. Fritz, the doctor revealed his life story. Fritz was born in Munich and moved to Poland. He studied medicine after his parents' early death. Prior to graduating, a general brought his daughter in, but Dr. Fritz could not save her. He was arrested for the girl's death and put through torture in jail. He eventually escaped and died four years later in 1918. Despite extensive research into these details, German records reveal no corroboration of these facts. Skeptics believe the doctor was invented by the psychic surgeons. Arigo's followers simply contend that the Dr. Fritz assumed a fake name.