Revision as of 19:24, 25 July 2007 editArthur Rubin (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users, Rollbackers130,168 editsm Wikify← Previous edit | Latest revision as of 14:54, 6 December 2024 edit undoColonies Chris (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Extended confirmed users, Pending changes reviewers, Rollbackers445,550 editsm minor fixes, replaced: New York City → New York City (2), , MD → , Maryland (3), - → –Tag: AWB | ||
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{{short description|American psychiatrist (born 1933)}} | |||
{{Infobox Biography | |||
| |
{{other people|Stephen Barrett|Stephen Barrett (disambiguation)}} | ||
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2013}} | |||
| image_name = | |||
{{Infobox person | |||
| image_size = | |||
| |
| name = Stephen Barrett | ||
| image = Stephen Barrett seated at desk crop.jpg | |||
| date_of_birth = 1933 | |||
| image_size = | |||
| place_of_birth = New York City | |||
| |
| caption = | ||
| birth_name = Stephen Joel Barrett | |||
| place_of_death = | |||
| birth_date = {{birth year and age|1933}} | |||
| occupation = Psychiatrist, Author, Consumer Advocate, Webmaster | |||
| |
| birth_place = New York City, U.S. | ||
| death_date = | |||
| death_place = | |||
| education = ] | |||
| occupation = Psychiatrist, author, consumer advocate, webmaster | |||
| years_active = 1961–1993 (psychiatry) | |||
| known_for = Being the webmaster of ] | |||
| spouse = Judith Nevyas Barrett<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.quackwatch.org/10Bio/biovitae.html |title=Stephen Barrett, M.D. Curriculum Vitae |last=Barrett |first=Stephen |date=December 21, 2016 |website=Quackwatch |access-date=February 25, 2017 |quote=Wife, Judith Nevyas Barrett, M.D., is a retired family practitioner.}}</ref><ref name="biography">{{cite news |last=Rosen |first=Marjorie |date=October 1998 |title=Interviews – Stephen Barrett, M.D. |url=https://www.quackwatch.org/10Bio/biography.html |newspaper=Biography Magazine |access-date=February 25, 2017}}</ref> | |||
| children = 3 | |||
| website = {{URL|quackwatch.org|QuackWatch.org}} | |||
}} | }} | ||
'''Stephen |
'''Stephen Joel Barrett''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|b|æ|r|ɪ|t}}; born 1933) is an American retired ], author, co-founder of the ] (NCAHF), and the webmaster of ]. He runs a number of websites dealing with ] and health fraud. He focuses on ], ], and ].<!-- A long list is already referenced in the body of the article. This is the LEAD where things are abbreviated. --> | ||
==Early life and education== | |||
== Biography == | |||
Barrett was born in New York City. He is a 1957 graduate of the ] and completed his psychiatry ] in 1961. In 1968, he completed part of a correspondence course in American Law and Procedure at ] in ].<ref name="QWBIO">{{cite news |first=Stephen |last=Barrett |title=Curriculum Vitae |url=http://www.quackwatch.org/10Bio/biovitae.html |publisher=] |date=June 24, 2007 |access-date=July 18, 2007}}</ref> | |||
==Career== | |||
Barrett is a ] graduate of the ] and completed his psychiatry ] in 1961. In 1967 and 1968 he followed part of a correspondence course in American Law and Procedure at ] (Chicago).<ref name="QWBIO"> | |||
Barrett was a practicing physician until retiring from active practice in 1993. {{As of|2019}}, his ] was listed as "Expired" in good standing: "No disciplinary actions were found for this license."<ref>{{Cite web |url = http://www.licensepa.state.pa.us/Details.aspx?agency_id=1&license_id=528406& |title = Pennsylvania Department of State; Stephen Barret Medical License Status and standing |access-date = November 19, 2015 |publisher = Pennsylvania Department of State; to be considered a primary resource }}{{Dead link|date=October 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><!--verifiable by searching here: https://www.pals.pa.gov/#/page/search--> A longtime resident of ], Barrett now resides in ].<ref name="mcall">{{cite news |first=Ann |last=Wlazelek |title=Allentown critic of quacks moves to 'milder winters' |url=https://www.mcall.com/2007/06/13/allentown-critic-of-quacks-moves-to-milder-winters-stephen-barrett-73-says-hell-keep-exposing-false-medical-claims/ |work=] |date=June 13, 2007 |access-date=September 25, 2014}}</ref> | |||
{{cite news | |||
|first=Stephen | |||
In addition to ]ing his websites, Barrett was a co-founder, vice-president and a board member of the ] (NCAHF). He is a scientific advisor to the ], and a fellow of the ] (CSI). From 1987 through 1989, he taught ] at ]. | |||
|last=Barrett | |||
|title=Curriculum Vitae | |||
Barrett was the consulting editor for the Consumer Health Library at ],<ref name="prometheus books">{{cite web |url=http://www.prometheusbooks.com/PBcatalog.pdf|title=Prometheus Books Spring-Summer 2007 Trade Catalog|access-date=March 29, 2007|page=63 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20061114180455/http://www.prometheusbooks.com/PBcatalog.pdf |archive-date = November 14, 2006}}</ref> and has been a ] panelist for <ref name="SBcv">{{cite news |first=Stephen |last=Barrett |title=Stephen Barrett, M.D., Biographical Sketch |url=http://www.quackwatch.com/10Bio/bio.html |publisher=Quackwatch |date=June 4, 2007 |access-date=August 12, 2007}}</ref> two<ref name="jama_peer_reviewer1">{{cite journal |first=Elaine S |last=Williams |title=The JAMA 1998 Editorial Peer Review Audit |journal=] |date=April 21, 1999 | doi = 10.1001/jama.281.15.1443 |volume=281 |issue=15 |page=1443|doi-access=free }}</ref><ref name="jama_peer_reviewer2">{{Cite journal|title=JAMA Peer Reviewers for 2003|date=February 11, 2004|journal=JAMA|volume=291|issue=6|pages=751–764|doi=10.1001/jama.291.6.751|s2cid=162455343 |doi-access=free}}</ref><ref name="annals_peer_reviewer">{{cite journal |title=Thanks to Reviewers-2001 |journal=] |date=December 18, 2001 |volume=135 |issue=12 |pages=1098–1106 |doi=10.7326/0003-4819-135-12-200112180-00033|s2cid=53089455 |doi-access= }}</ref> ]s. He has also served on the editorial board of ]<ref name="medscape">{{cite journal |title=Introducing the Editorial Board of Medscape |journal= MedGenMed|pmid=11104430 | page=E28 | last1 = Lundberg | first1 = GD | year=1999}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> and the '']''.<ref name="SRAM">{{cite web |title=The Scientific Review of Alternative Medicine |date=August 15, 2002 |url=http://www.quackwatch.com/04ConsumerEducation/sram.html |publisher=Quackwatch |access-date=15 February 2015}}</ref> According to his website, he "has written more than 2,000 articles and delivered more than 300 talks at colleges, universities, medical schools, and professional meetings. His media appearances include '']'', '']'', '']'', '']'', '']'', ], ], and more than 200 other radio and television talk show interviews."<ref name="SBcv" /><ref name=GMA_04_07_2009>Sintay and Hagan. . Barrett participated on '']'', April 7, 2009.</ref> | |||
|url=http://www.quackwatch.org/10Bio/biovitae.html | |||
|publisher=] | |||
|date=June 24, 2007 | |||
|accessdate=2007-07-18}}</ref> He was a licensed physician until retiring from active practice in 1993, and his ] is currently listed as "Active-Retired" in good standing.<ref name="License_Verification"> | |||
{{cite news | |||
|first=Stephen | |||
|last=Barrett | |||
|title=License Verification | |||
|url=http://www.licensepa.state.pa.us/publicinfo.asp?sid=268928087&record=0&facility=False&l_person_id=528406&l_profession_id=1700&l_license_id=528406&Last_Name=Barrett&First_Name=Stephen&License_number=&Facility_Name=&DBA_Name= | |||
|publisher=Pennsylvania Department of State, Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs | |||
|date= | |||
|accessdate=2007-07-18}}</ref> Longtime resident of ], Barrett now resides in ].<ref name="mcall"> | |||
{{cite news | |||
|first=Ann | |||
|last=Wlazelek | |||
|title=Allentown critic of quacks moves to 'milder winters' | |||
|url=http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/mcall/access/1287793231.html?dids=1287793231:1287793231&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Jun+13%2C+2007&author=Ann+Wlazelek+Of+The+Morning+Call&pub=Morning+Call&edition=&startpage=B.2&desc=Allentown+critic+of+quacks+moves+to+%22milder+winters%27+**+Stephen+Barrett%2C+73%2C+says+he%27ll+keep+exposing+false+medical+claims | |||
|publisher=] | |||
|date=June 13, 2007 | |||
|accessdate=2007-07-21}}</ref> | |||
Quackwatch received the award of Best Physician-Authored Site by MD NetGuide, May 2003.<ref name=nettie>{{cite web |url=http://www.mdnetguide.com/departments/may_june2003/cover.html |title=Pass the Envelope, Please...: ''Best Physician- Authored Site'' |work=MD Net Guide |date=May–June 2003 |access-date=April 3, 2009 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20030625042915/http://www.mdnetguide.com/departments/may_june2003/cover.html |archive-date = June 25, 2003}}</ref> In 1984, he received an ] Commissioner's Special Citation Award for Public Service in fighting nutrition quackery.<ref name="Medical_Reporter">{{cite web|author=Joel R. Cooper|url=http://medicalreporter.health.org/tmr0199/consumerfraud.html |title=Consumer Health Fraud...don't be a victim! Interview with Stephen Barrett, M.D. |work=The Medical Reporter|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061212174116/http://medicalreporter.health.org/tmr0199/consumerfraud.html|archive-date=December 12, 2006 }}</ref> He was included in the list of outstanding skeptics of the 20th century by '']'' magazine.<ref name="csicop">{{cite web |title=Ten Outstanding Skeptics of the Century |url=http://www.csicop.org/articles/19991214-century/ |work=] |access-date=August 12, 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070715132139/http://www.csicop.org/articles/19991214-century/ |archive-date = July 15, 2007}}</ref> In 1986, he was awarded honorary membership in the ].<ref name="Medical_Reporter" /> Barrett has been profiled in ''Biography Magazine'' (1998)<ref name="rosen">{{cite news |first=Marjorie |last=Rosen |title=Interview with Stephen Barrett, M.D |url=http://www.quackwatch.org/10Bio/biography.html |work=Biography Magazine |date=October 1998 |access-date=August 16, 2007}}</ref> and in '']'' (2001).<ref name="jaroff">{{cite news |first=Leon |last=Jaroff |title=The Man Who Loves To Bust Quacks |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1101010430-107254,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050406044958/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1101010430-107254,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 6, 2005 |work=] |date=April 30, 2001 |access-date=August 16, 2007}}</ref> | |||
In addition to webmastering his websites, Barrett is a co-founder, vice-president and a board member of the ] (NCAHF). He is an advisor to the ], and a Fellow of the ] (CSI). From 1987 through 1989, he taught health education at ]. | |||
The magazine '']'' included Barrett in a survey of 134 persons<ref name="Spiked_Interviewees">{{cite news |title=What Inspired You? – Index of Survey responses |url=http://www.spiked-online.com/index.php?/inspired/atoz/ |work=] |access-date=July 23, 2007 }}</ref> they termed "key thinkers in science, technology and medicine."<ref name="Spiked_Introduction">{{cite news |title=What Inspired You? – Introduction |url=http://www.spiked-online.com/index.php?/inspired/ |work=Spiked-Online |access-date=July 23, 2007 }}</ref><ref name="Spiked_Online">{{cite news |first=Stephen |last=Barrett |title=What Inspired You? – Survey responses – Dr Stephen Barrett |url=http://www.spiked-online.com/index.php?/inspired/article/1336 |work=Spiked-Online |access-date=July 23, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120920174441/http://www.spiked-online.com/index.php/inspired/article/1336/|archive-date=September 20, 2012 }}</ref> When he was asked: "What inspired you to take up science?" he replied that his appreciation of medical science: | |||
Barrett is the consulting editor for the Consumer Health Library at ]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.prometheusbooks.com/PBcatalog.pdf |title=Prometheus Books Spring-Summer 2007 Trade Catalog |accessdate=2007-03-29 | format= PDF|work= |publisher= |pages=p. 63}}</ref> and has been a ] panelist for at least<ref name="SBcv"></ref> two<ref name="jama_peer_reviewer"></ref><ref name ="annals-peer_reviewer"></ref> medical journals. According to his website, he "has written more than 2,000 articles and delivered more than 300 talks at colleges, universities, medical schools, and professional meetings. His media appearances include '']'', the '']'', '']'', '']'', '']'', ], ], and more than 200 other radio and television talk show interviews."<ref name="SBcv"/> | |||
<blockquote>probably began when I took a college course in medical statistics, and learned what makes the difference between scientific thought and poor reasoning. Medical school brought me in touch with the rapid and amazing strides being made in the understanding and treatment of disease. My anti-quackery activities have intensified my interest and concern in distinguishing science from pseudoscience, quackery and fraud.<ref name="Spiked_Online" /></blockquote> | |||
Barrett has received a number of awards and recognition for his ] work against quackery.<ref name="nettie"/> ] received the award of ''Best Physician- Authored Site'' by MD NetGuide, May ].<ref name="nettie"> ''MDNetGuide'', May/June 2003.</ref> | |||
In ], he received an ] Commissioner's Special Citation Award for Public Service in fighting nutrition quackery.<ref name="Medical_Reporter">Joel R. Cooper. Interview with Stephen Barrett, M.D., ''The Medical Reporter''</ref> '']'', in collaboration with ],<ref name="Spiked_Introduction"> | |||
===Quackwatch=== | |||
{{main|Quackwatch}} | |||
The Quackwatch website is Barrett's main platform for describing and exposing what he and other contributors consider to be ] and health fraud.<ref name="quacks"> | |||
{{cite news | {{cite news | ||
|first= | |first=Fred D | ||
|last= | |last=Baldwin | ||
|url=http://www.medhunters.com/articles/ifItQuacksLikeADuck.html | |||
|title=What Inspired You? — Introduction | |||
|title=If It Quacks Like a Duck ... | |||
|url=http://www.spiked-online.com/index.php?/inspired/ | |||
|access-date=September 16, 2007 | |||
|publisher=] | |||
|publisher=MedHunters |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080206060833/http://www.medhunters.com/articles/ifItQuacksLikeADuck.html |archive-date = February 6, 2008}}</ref> The website was part of Quackwatch, Inc., a ] founded by Barrett that aims to "combat health-related frauds, myths, fads, fallacies, and misconduct." The non-profit was dissolved in 2008.<ref name="mission_statement"> | |||
|date= | |||
|accessdate=2007-07-23 | |||
|quote=}}</ref> quoted Barrett in a survey of 134 respondents, entitled <ref name="Spiked_Interviewees"> | |||
{{cite news | {{cite news | ||
|first= | |first=Stephen, MD | ||
|last= | |last=Barrett | ||
|url=http://www.quackwatch.org/00AboutQuackwatch/mission.html | |||
|title=What Inspired You? — Index of Survey responses | |||
|title=Quackwatch mission statement | |||
|url=http://www.spiked-online.com/index.php?/inspired/atoz/ | |||
|access-date=August 16, 2007 | |||
|publisher=] | |||
|publisher=Quackwatch}}</ref> Barrett's writing is supplemented with contributions from many scientific, technical, and lay volunteers and includes numerous references to published research articles.<ref name="advisors"> | |||
|date= | |||
|accessdate=2007-07-23 | |||
|quote=}}</ref> "Key thinkers in science, technology and medicine."<ref name="Spiked_Online"> | |||
{{cite news | {{cite news | ||
|first=Stephen | |first=Stephen, MD | ||
|last=Barrett | |last=Barrett | ||
|title=150+ Scientific and Technical Advisors | |||
|title=What Inspired You? — Survey responses — Dr Stephen Barrett | |||
|url=http://www. |
|url=http://www.quackwatch.org/09Advisors/advbd.html | ||
|publisher= |
|publisher=Quackwatch | ||
|date= | |date=January 28, 2003 | ||
|access-date=May 21, 2015}}</ref> Barrett defines ''quackery'' as "anything involving overpromotion in the field of health,"<ref name="quackdefinition"> | |||
|accessdate=2007-07-23 | |||
|quote=}}</ref> He received multiple votes or at least one first-place vote in "10 outstanding skeptics of the 20th century by '']'' magazine.<ref name="csicop"></ref> | |||
In ], he was awarded honorary membership in the ].<ref name="Medical_Reporter"/> Barrett has been profiled in ''Biography Magazine'' (])<ref name="rosen">{{cite web|url=http://www.quackwatch.org/10Bio/biography.html|author=Rosen, Marjorie (October 1998)|title=Interview with Stephen Barrett, M.D.|accessdate=2007-02-12|publisher=Biography Magazine}}</ref> and in ''] (])''.<ref name="jaroff">Jaroff, Leon (April 30, 2001). '']'' retrieved Dec. 25, 2006.</ref> | |||
In the '']'' survey, Barrett was asked: "What inspired you to take up science?" Barrett replied that his appreciation of medical science: | |||
:"probably began when I took a college course in medical statistics, and learned what makes the difference between scientific thought and poor reasoning. Medical school brought me in touch with the rapid and amazing strides being made in the understanding and treatment of disease.<!--- Last two thirds of sentence was bold because that's the way it was in the original. --> My anti-quackery activities have intensified my interest and concern in distinguishing science from pseudoscience, quackery and fraud."<ref name="Spiked_Online"/> | |||
== Online activism == | |||
The ] website is Barrett's main platform for describing that which he considers to be quackery and health fraud. The website is part of Quackwatch, Inc., a ] that aims to "combat health-related frauds, myths, fads, fallacies, and misconduct."<ref name="rosen">{{cite web|url=http://www.quackwatch.org/00AboutQuackwatch/mission.html|author=Barrett, Stephen, MD|title=Quackwatch mission statement|accessdate=2007-02-12|publisher=Quackwatch}}</ref> Barrett's writing is supplemented with contributions from 150+ scientific, technical, and lay volunteers.<ref name="advisors">{{cite web|url=http://www.quackwatch.org/09Advisors/advbd.html|author=Barrett, Stephen, MD|title=150+ Scientific and Technical Advisors|accessdate=2007-02-12|publisher=Quackwatch}}</ref> Barrett defines ''quackery'' as "anything involving overpromotion in the field of health,"<ref name="quackdef">{{cite web|url=http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/quackdef.html |author=Barrett, Stephen, MD|title=Quackery: How Should It Be Defined?|accessdate=2007-02-12|publisher=Quackwatch}}</ref> and reserves the word ''fraud'' "only for situations in which deliberate deception is involved."<ref name="frauddef">{{cite web|url=http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/quackdef2.html|author=Barrett SJ, Jarvis WT|title=Quackery, Fraud and "Alternative" Methods: Important Definitions|accessdate=2007-02-12|publisher=Quackwatch}}</ref> | |||
Barrett has criticized numerous forms of alternative medicine and other practices he considers questionable, for example: | |||
{{MultiCol}} | |||
* ]<ref name="qw-homepage"> | |||
{{cite news | {{cite news | ||
|first=Stephen | |first=Stephen, MD | ||
|last=Barrett | |last=Barrett | ||
|title=Quackery: How Should It Be Defined? | |||
|title=Quackwatch — listing criticisms of several practices | |||
|url=http://www.quackwatch.org/ | |url=http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/quackdef.html | ||
|publisher=Quackwatch | |||
|work=Your Guide to Quackery, Health Fraud, and Intelligent Decisions | |||
|access-date=August 16, 2007}}</ref> and reserves the word ''fraud'' "only for situations in which deliberate deception is involved."<ref name="frauddefinition">{{cite news | |||
|publisher=] | |||
|author=Barrett SJ, Jarvis WT | |||
|date= | |||
|url=http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/quackdef2.html | |||
|accessdate=2007-07-17 | |||
|title=Quackery, Fraud and "Alternative" Methods: Important Definitions | |||
|quote=}}</ref> | |||
|publisher=Quackwatch | |||
* ]-based therapies<ref name="algae">Barrett, S. "" Retrieved 17 July 2007</ref> | |||
|access-date=August 16, 2007}}</ref> | |||
* ]<ref name="amalgam">Barrett, S. "" Retrieved 17 July 2007</ref> within ] | |||
Barrett has become a "lightning rod" for controversy as a result of his criticisms of alternative medicine theories and practitioners. Barrett says he does not criticize conventional medicine because that would be "way outside scope."<ref name="jaroff" /><ref name="Ladd"> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140123015421/http://www.villagevoice.com/1999-06-22/news/doctor-who/ |date=January 23, 2014 }} by Donna Ladd, '']'', June 23–29, 1999. Retrieved September 2, 2006</ref> He states he does not give ] to some subjects, and has written on his web site that "Quackery and fraud don't involve legitimate controversy and are not balanced subjects. I don't believe it is helpful to publish 'balanced' articles about unbalanced subjects."<ref name="Barrett">{{cite news | |||
* ]<ref name="qw-homepage"/> | |||
|url=http://www.quackwatch.org/00AboutQuackwatch/faq2.html | |||
* ]<ref name="altmed">Barrett, S. "" Retrieved 17 July 2007</ref> | |||
|author=Barrett SJ | |||
* ]<ref name="qw-homepage"/> | |||
|title=How do you respond to accusations that your writing is unbalanced? | |||
* ]<ref name="qw-homepage"/> | |||
|access-date=August 16, 2007 | |||
* ]<ref>Barrett, S. "" Retrieved 17 July 2007</ref> | |||
|publisher=Quackwatch}}</ref> Barrett is at the forefront of exposing questionable aspects of ].<ref>{{cite book |pages=171–72 |chapter= The truth about chiropractic therapy |title= Trick or Treatment: The Undeniable Facts about Alternative Medicine |author= Singh S, Ernst E |year=2008 |publisher= W.W. Norton |isbn=978-0-393-06661-6}}</ref> | |||
* ]<ref name="chiro_subluxation">Barrett, S. "" Retrieved 17 July 2007</ref> | |||
* ]<ref name="qw-homepage"/> | |||
* ]<ref name="colonic">Barrett, S. "" Retrieved 17 July 2007</ref> | |||
* ]<ref name="qw-homepage"/> | |||
{{ColBreak}} | |||
* ]s<ref name="supplements">Barrett, S. "" Retrieved 17 July 2007</ref> | |||
* ] clinics<ref name="embryonic">Barrett, S. "" Retrieved 17 July 2007</ref> and ] banking<ref name="embryonic"/> | |||
* ]s<ref name="qw-homepage"/> | |||
* ]<ref name="qw-homepage"/> | |||
* Genetic diagnoses<ref name="qw-homepage"/> | |||
* ]<ref name="qw-homepage"/> | |||
* ]<ref name="qw-homepage"/> | |||
* ]<ref name="qw-homepage"/> | |||
* ]<ref name="herbal">Barrett, S. "" Retrieved 17 July 2007</ref> | |||
* ]<ref name="homeopathy">Barrett, S. "" Retrieved 17 July 2007</ref> | |||
* ]<ref name="qw-homepage"/> | |||
{{ColBreak}} | |||
* ]<ref name="qw-homepage"/> | |||
* ]<ref name="qw-homepage"/> | |||
* Metabolic therapy<ref name="qw-homepage"/> | |||
* ]<ref name="qw-homepage"/> | |||
* ]<ref name="naturopathy">Barrett, S. "" Retrieved 17 July 2007</ref> | |||
* ]<ref name="qw-homepage"/> | |||
* ]<ref name="qw-homepage"/> | |||
* ]<ref name="qw-homepage"/> | |||
* Pneumatic trabeculoplasty<ref name="qw-homepage"/> | |||
* ]<ref name="qw-homepage"/> | |||
* ]<ref name="qw-homepage"/> | |||
{{EndMultiCol}} | |||
On his main website he also maintains public lists of sources, individuals, and groups which he considers questionable and non-recommendable.<ref name="nonrecsource">{{cite web|url=http://www.quackwatch.org/#nonrecadvice|author=Barrett SJ|title=Nonrecommended Sources of Health Advice|accessdate=2007-02-12|publisher=Quackwatch}}</ref><ref name="nonrec">{{cite web|url=http://www.quackwatch.org/04ConsumerEducation/nonrecorg.html|author=Barrett SJ|title=Questionable Organizations: An Overview|accessdate=2007-02-12|publisher=Quackwatch}}</ref> The list includes two-time ] winner ] (for his claims about mega-doses of ]<ref name="pauling">{{cite web|url=http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/pauling.html|author=Barrett SJ|title=The Dark Side of Linus Pauling's Legacy|accessdate=2007-02-12|publisher=Quackwatch}}</ref>), the ] (NIH) ], as well as ] proponent ].<ref name="weil">{{cite web|url=http://www.quackwatch.org/11Ind/weil.html|author=Relamn AS|title=A Trip to Stonesville: Some Notes on Andrew Weil|accessdate=2007-02-12|publisher=]}}</ref> | |||
Barrett is a strong supporter of the ] and has made efforts to improve compliance with its rules and to expose those who abuse it.<ref name="Wanjek">Christopher Wanjek. '']'', April 20, 2004; Page HE01</ref> | |||
== Criticism == | |||
A number of practitioners and supporters of ] oppose Barrett and Quackwatch for its criticism of alternative medicine.<ref name="Ladd" /><ref name="Evaluating_CAM">{{cite journal | last1 = Hufford | first1 = David J. |authorlink1=David Hufford | year = 2003 | title = Symposium article: Evaluating Complementary and Alternative Medicine: The Limits of Science and Scientists | journal = The Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics | volume = 31 | issue = 2| pages = 198–212 | doi = 10.1111/j.1748-720x.2003.tb00081.x | pmid = 12964264 | s2cid = 29859505 }}. Hufford's symposium presentation was the counterpoint for another doctor's presentation, which argued that "alternative medicine" is not medicine at all. See {{cite journal | last1 = Schneiderman | first1 = Lawrence J. | year = 2003 | title = Symposium article: The (Alternative) Medicalization of Life | journal = The Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics | volume = 31 | issue = 2| pages = 191–198 | doi = 10.1111/j.1748-720x.2003.tb00080.x | pmid = 12964263 | s2cid = 43786245 }}</ref> ], a journalist with '']'', says Barrett relies mostly on negative research to criticize alternative medicine, rejecting most positive case studies as unreliable due to methodological flaws. According to Ladd, Barrett insists that most alternative therapies "simply should be disregarded without further research. 'A lot of things don't need to be tested they simply don't make any sense', he says, pointing to ], chiropractic, and ] as examples of alternative treatments with no plausible mechanism of action."<ref name="Ladd" /> | |||
Barrett has become a "lightning rod" for controversy as a result of his publicized views on alternative health theories and practitioners. Barrett says he does not criticize conventional medicine because that would be "way outside scope."<ref name="jaroff"/><ref name="Ladd"> by Donna Ladd, Village Voice, June 23 - 29, 1999. Retrieved September 2, 2006</ref> He states he does not give ] to some subjects, and has written on his web site, "Quackery and fraud don't involve legitimate controversy and are not balanced subjects. I don't believe it is helpful to publish "balanced" articles about unbalanced subjects. Do you think that the press should enable rapists and murderers to argue that they provide valuable services?"<ref name="Barrett">{{cite web|url=http://www.quackwatch.org/00AboutQuackwatch/faq2.html|author=Barrett SJ|title=How do you respond to accusations that your writing is unbalanced?|accessdate=2007-02-12|publisher=Quackwatch}}</ref> | |||
Both website reviews<ref name="The Good Web Guide">{{cite book | |||
Barrett's objectivity and qualifications to critique alternative medicine have been challenged by several different people. | |||
|author=Arabella Dymoke | |||
|title=The Good Web Guide | |||
|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JCipdQBDUucC&pg=PA35 | |||
|year=2004 | |||
|publisher=The Good Web Guide Ltd | |||
|isbn=978-1-903282-46-5 | |||
|page=35 | |||
|quote=Quackwatch is without doubt an important and useful information resource and injects a healthy dose of scepticism into reviewing popular health information. Its aim is to investigate questionable claims made in some sectors of what is now a multi-million pound healthcare industry.}}</ref><ref name="ascp">{{cite news | |||
|first=Bao-Anh | |||
|last=Nguyen-Khoa | |||
|title=Selected Web Site Reviews — Quackwatch.com | |||
|url=http://www.ascp.com/publications/tcp/1999/jul/access.shtml | |||
|publisher=] | |||
|date=July 1999 | |||
|access-date=June 24, 2013 | |||
|url-status=dead | |||
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090318041703/http://www.ascp.com/publications/tcp/1999/jul/access.shtml | |||
|archive-date=March 18, 2009 }}</ref><ref name="forbes">{{cite web | |||
|url=https://www.forbes.com/bow/b2c/review.jhtml?id=865 | |||
|work=] | |||
|title=Best of the Web website reviews: Quackwatch. | |||
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080114071544/http://www.forbes.com/bow/b2c/review.jhtml?id=865 | |||
|archive-date=January 14, 2008 }}</ref><ref name="thedietchannel">{{cite news | |||
|title=Diet Channel Award Review Of Quackwatch | |||
|url=http://www.thedietchannel.com/Quackwatch-Review.htm | |||
|access-date=September 18, 2007 | |||
|quote=Quackwatch is a very informative site which informs you about health fraud and gives you advice on many decisions.}}</ref><ref name="USNWR1999">{{cite news|title=The Best of The Web Gets Better | |||
|url=https://www.usnews.com/usnews/culture/articles/991115/archive_002597_7.htm | |||
|work=US News | |||
|date=November 7, 1999 | |||
|url-status=dead | |||
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060524122033/http://www.usnews.com/usnews/culture/articles/991115/archive_002597_7.htm |archive-date=May 24, 2006 }}</ref> and various journal articles<ref name="AJPE">{{Cite journal | |||
|pmc = 1803699 | |||
|year = 2006 | |||
|last1 = Pray | |||
|first1 = W. S. | |||
|title = Ethical, Scientific, and Educational Concerns with Unproven Medications | |||
|journal = American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education | |||
|volume = 70 | |||
|issue = 6 | |||
|pages = 141 | |||
|pmid = 17332867 | |||
|doi = 10.5688/aj7006141}}</ref><ref name="JME">{{cite journal | |||
|doi=10.1177/0273475303257763 | |||
|title=If it Walks Like a Duck...: Concerns about Quackery in Marketing Education | |||
|journal=Journal of Marketing Education | |||
|volume=26 | |||
|pages=4–16 | |||
|year=2004 | |||
|last1=Chonko | |||
|first1=Lawrence B. | |||
|s2cid=167338734 | |||
|id={{ERIC|EJ807197}}}}</ref><ref name="MJA" >{{Cite journal | |||
|pmid = 16336135 | |||
|year = 2005 | |||
|last1 = Sampson | |||
|first1 = Wallace | |||
|title = Propagation of the absurd: Demarcation of the absurd revisited | |||
|journal = The Medical Journal of Australia | |||
|volume = 183|issue = 11–12 | |||
|pages = 580–1 | |||
|last2 = Atwood IV | |||
|first2 = Kimball|doi = 10.5694/j.1326-5377.2005.tb00040.x | |||
|s2cid = 43272637 | |||
}}</ref><ref name="JADA">{{cite journal | |||
|doi=10.1016/S0002-8223(01)00117-1 | |||
|title=Internet hoaxes: How to spot them and how to debunk them | |||
|journal=Journal of the American Dietetic Association | |||
|volume=101 | |||
|issue=4 | |||
|pages=460 | |||
|year=2001 | |||
|last1=Cunningham | |||
|first1=Eleese | |||
|last2=Marcason | |||
|first2=Wendy}}</ref><ref name=JAMA>{{cite journal | |||
|doi=10.1001/jama.280.15.1380 | |||
|title=Click here: How to find reliable online health information and resources | |||
|journal=JAMA | |||
|volume=280 | |||
|issue=15 | |||
|pages=1380 | |||
|year=1998 | |||
|pmid=9794323}}</ref><ref name="The Lancet">{{Cite journal | |||
|doi = 10.1016/S0140-6736(05)78918-2 | |||
|title = Medical quackery squashers on the web | |||
|journal = The Lancet | |||
|volume = 351 | |||
|issue = 9114 | |||
|pages = 1520 | |||
|year = 1998 | |||
|last1 = Larkin | |||
|first1 = Marilynn|s2cid = 54300255 | |||
}}</ref> mention or use as references Stephen Barrett's ''Quackwatch'' as a useful source for consumer information. However, other authors have criticised Quackwatch as being overly biased in its presentation.<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Okasha | first1 = Mona | year = 2000 | title = Quackery on the web – questionable cancer therapies | url = https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanonc/article/PIIS1470-2045(00)00162-5/fulltext | journal = The Lancet Oncology | volume = 1 | issue = 4| page = 251 | doi = 10.1016/S1470-2045(00)00162-5 }}</ref><ref>Cuzzell, Jane. (2000). "", ''Dermatology Nursing'', Apr. 2000, p. 134. Accessed 6 November 2019.</ref><ref name=Vankevitch>{{cite book|author=Vankevitch, Ned|chapter=Limiting Pluralism|editor=Ernst, Waltraud |title=Plural medicine, tradition and modernity, 1800-2000 |publisher=Routledge |location=New York |year=2002 |pages=219–244|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DVp71Gp4eE4C|isbn=978-0-415-23122-0}}</ref> | |||
In February 2020, Quackwatch became part of the ]. CFI maintains its various websites.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Fidalgo |first1=Paul |title=Quackwatch Joins the Center for Inquiry |url=https://centerforinquiry.org/press_releases/quackwatch-joins-the-center-for-inquiry/ |website=Center for Inquiry |date=February 26, 2020 |access-date=26 February 2020}}</ref> | |||
* According to '']'' journalist ], Barrett relies mostly on negative research to criticize alternative medicine, rejecting most positive case studies as unreliable. She further writes that Barrett insists that although most alternative therapies are under-researched, they should be disregarded because they are illogical. Peter Barry Chowka, a former adviser to the National Institutes of Health's Office of Alternative Medicine, describes this as "putting down trying to be objective."<ref name="Ladd"/> | |||
== Publications == | |||
* James A. Mertz, then-President of the ], wrote in a letter to Time in 2001: "The American public is being grossly misled by Dr. Stephen Barrett. While he positions himself as a protector of the public, his statements are, in reality, so one-sided that he simply cannot be taken seriously."<ref> </ref> | |||
Barrett's articles include: | |||
* In 1985, Barrett was the author of the "Commercial hair analysis. Science or scam?" article in the '']'' that exposed commercial laboratories performing multimineral ]. He commented that in his opinion, "commercial use of hair analysis in this manner is unscientific, economically wasteful, and probably illegal."<ref name="hairanalysis">Barrett SJ (August 23, 1985). ''JAMA'' Vol. 254 No. 8.</ref> His report has been cited in later articles, including one which concluded that such testing was "unreliable."<ref name="Seidel">, Seidel S, et al., ''JAMA''. 2001;285:67–72.</ref> | |||
* , Rosa L, ], Sarner L, Barrett SJ. (April 1, 1998). '']'', Vol. 279, No. 13, pp 1005–1010. | |||
His (co)authored and (co)edited books include:<ref name="booklist">{{cite web|url=http://www.quackwatch.org/10Bio/biobooks.html|author=Barrett SJ|title=Books and book chapters|access-date=February 12, 2007|publisher=Quackwatch}}</ref> | |||
* Analyzing and reviewing a book, ''Vitamin Pushers'', by Stephen Barrett and Victor Herbert, ] PhD states, ''"Most of their book does not discuss supplements at all. It is filled with derisive statements about individuals and organizations in the health care and natural foods industries."''<ref name="colgan">Dr. Michael Colgan, ''The Vitamin Pushers,'' Townsend Letter for Doctors, October, 1992, p. 126.</ref> | |||
* ''Consumer Health: A Guide to Intelligent Decisions'', Barrett S, ], Kroger M, ], ] (2013). (textbook, 9th ed.) McGraw-Hill, {{ISBN|978-0078028489}} | |||
* ''Dubious Cancer Treatment'', Barrett SJ & Cassileth BR, editors (2001). Florida Division of the ] | |||
* ''Chemical Sensitivity: The Truth About Environmental Illness'' (Consumer Health Library), Barrett, SJ & Gots, Ronald E. (1998). Prometheus Books. {{ISBN|9781573921954}} | |||
* ''The Health Robbers: A Close Look at Quackery in America'', Barrett SJ, Jarvis WT, eds. (1993). Prometheus Books, {{ISBN|0-87975-855-4}} | |||
* ''Health Schemes, Scams, and Frauds'', Barrett SJ (1991). Consumer Reports Books, {{ISBN|0-89043-330-5}} | |||
* ''Reader's Guide to Alternative Health Methods'', Zwicky JF, Hafner AW, Barrett S, Jarvis WT (1993). ], {{ISBN|0-89970-525-1}} | |||
* ''The Vitamin Pushers: How the "Health Food" Industry Is Selling America a Bill of Goods'', Barrett SJ, Herbert V (1991). Prometheus Books, {{ISBN|0-87975-909-7}} | |||
* ''Vitamins and Minerals: Help or Harm?'', Marshall CW (1983). Lippincott Williams & Wilkins {{ISBN|0-397-53060-9}} (edited by Barrett, won the ] award for best book of 1983 for the general public, republished by ]). | |||
Collections of articles: | |||
Barrett's involvement in the legal system has also spawned controversy about his objectivity and qualifications to pass judgment on those he deems "quacks." He or NCAHF has initiated a number of lawsuits against those engaged in what he considers unscientific medical practices. He has also offered testimony on psychiatry, FDA regulatory issues, and homeopathy and other areas of alternative medicine. | |||
* ''Paranormal Claims: A Critical Analysis'', 2007, edited by Bryan Farha, ], {{ISBN|978-0-7618-3772-5}}. Three of the eighteen chapters are written by Barrett. | |||
== Defamation lawsuits == | |||
{{POV-section}} | |||
Mirroring Barrett's criticisms of alternative health practitioners has been a response, mainly on the internet, to question the reliabilty and objectivity of his websites. Barrett considered some opinion pieces by Patrick "Tim" Bolen (which falsely claimed that Barrett had been "de-licensed") to be libelous and has filed ] suits against a few of those who have republished them. He has explained why he filed the lawsuits: | |||
:"None of us are thin-skinned or care when people attack our ideas. But unjustified attacks on our character or professional competence are another matter. As Bolen's campaign unfolded, my colleagues and I have notified him and many of the people spreading his messages that libel is a serious matter and that they had better stop. Some did, but it soon became clear that others would not. To defend ourselves, several of us have filed suit for libel."<ref name="bolen_response">{{cite web|url=http://www.quackwatch.org/11Ind/bolen.html|author=Barrett SJ|title=A Response to Tim Bolen|accessdate=2007-02-12|publisher=Quackwatch}}</ref> | |||
Barrett has had mixed results with his defamation lawsuits: | |||
'''''Barrett v. Clark''''' | |||
* In November 2000, Barrett, Polevoy and Attorney Grell sued ], Tim Bolen, Jan Bolen, David P. Amrein, Ilena Rosenthal, and unknown defendants for libel, libel per se, and conspiracy.<ref name="barretvbolen">{{cite web|url=http://www.quackwatch.org/11Ind/bolensuit.html |author=Barrett SJ|title=Stephen J. Barrett, M.D., Terry Polevoy, M.D., Christopher E. Grell, v. Hulda Clark, Tim Bolen, Jan Bolen, JuriMed, Dr. Clark Research Association, David P. Amrein, Ilena Rosenthal, and Does 1 to 100. Case No. SJBMVHC165479.|accessdate=2007-02-12|publisher=Quackwatch}}</ref> On July 25, 2001, the court granted Rosenthal's ] under California's anti-] provision, and ruled that the statements made by Rosenthal were opinion, and not statements of fact.<ref name="fonorow2">Monica Dias, ''Court ruling gives free-speech protections to reposting messages on Internet boards'', The News Media & The Law, Fall 2001 (Vol. 25, No. 4), Page 21. </ref><!--weak source, but it belongs here more than Fonorow --> In addition, plaintiffs failed to provide any evidence of damage, as required in a ] lawsuit.<ref name="casp>''Order Granting Defendant's Special Motion to Strike, (Barrett v Clark),'' California Anti-SLAPP Project. </ref><ref name="clark1">Perkins Coie, ''Barrett v. Clark'', Internet Case Digest, July 25, 2001. </ref> | |||
''''']''''' | |||
* On January 21, 2004, a California court of appeals vacated Rosenthal's motion to strike as it applied to Polevoy.<ref>''Barrett v. Rosenthal'', 9 Cal.Rptr.3d 142 (Cal. App. 2004)</ref> The court found that Rosenthal's defamatory claims that Dr. Polevoy was a stalker constituted libel per se so did not require findings of damages and was not covered by California's anti-SLAPP statute. The court also refused to extend Rosenthal immunity from Section 230 of the ] ("CDA"). The court distinguished Rosenthal from the internet service provider at issue in an influential CDA case, '']'', concluding that Rosenthal lacked immunity.<ref>For commentary and criticism, see Michael L. Rustad, Thomas H. Koenig ''Rebooting Cybertort Law'', 80 Wash. L. Rev. 335 (2005), online on </ref> | |||
* The California Supreme Court case heard Rosenthal's appeal on the interpretation of Section 230 of the CDA. In 2006, the Court ruled that Rosenthal, as a "user of an interactive communication service" was immune from liability for republication under Section 230.<ref name="rosenthal1">Howard Mintz, ''Justices hand victory to free speech online'', ], November 21, 2006. </ref> The issue of defamation against Barrett was not before the court, as lower courts had ruled that Rosenthal had not defamed Barrett.<ref name="rosenthal2">Eric J. Sinrod, ''Perspective: How Web providers dodged a big legal bullet'', ] News.com, December 20, 2006. </ref> | |||
'''''Barrett v. Negrete'''''<!--this appears to be a totally different case from the Clark/Rosenthal case above; it's federal, for one. What happened on remand? Is it even resolved yet? -Cool Hand Luke --> | |||
* In 2003, a case against Negrete and Clark was dismissed under SLAPP. | |||
* In 2005, a Ninth Circuit court of appeals panel reversed the district court's decision, and the case against Negrete and Clark was ]ed for further proceedings. The court ruled that the case should proceed because the defendants attempted to widely publicize "scurrilous" allegations on the Internet, without offering any proof that the allegations were true.<ref name="barrettVnegreteRemand">{{cite web|url=http://www.quackwatch.org/11Ind/negreteappeal.html|author=Barrett SJ|title=''Appeals Court Upholds Malicious Prosecution Suit against Hulda Clark and Attorney Carlos Negrete'', (Mem,. No. 04-55193 D.C. No. CV -02-0221 O-JML; No. 03-56663 D.C. No. CY -02-0221 O-JML March 14, 2005|accessdate=2007-02-12|publisher=Quackwatch}}. ''Barret v. Negrete'', 126 Fed.Appx. 816 (9th Cir. 2005) (unpublished).</ref> | |||
'''''Barrett v. Mercola''''' | |||
* In July, 2001, Barrett refiled a lawsuit in Illinois against ].<ref></ref><ref name="fonorow2" /> Barrett had alleged that Mercola posted libelous articles written by Tim Bolen. After Barrett complained about the articles, Mercola posted a rebuttal by Bolen where Bolen called Barrett an "extortionist."<ref name="May redefine libel law">{{cite news| title=Suits may redefine Internet libel law | author=Ted Gregory| publisher=''Chicago Tribune'' | date=]| page=L1}}</ref> In March 2002, the Illinois judge ruled that these statements "imply the existence of objectively verifiable facts," thus leaving the door open for a continuance of the libel suit. Mercola then retracted the statements<ref name="bolen_response"/> and on April 17, 2003 the suit was dismissed by mutual agreement.<ref></ref> Barrett describes the rest of the settlement on his website.<ref name="bolen_response"/> | |||
'''''Barrett v. Fonorow''''' | |||
* In July 2001, Barrett filed a libel suit against Owen R. Fonorow, and Intelisoft Multimedia, Inc.<ref name="fonorow1">''Barrett v. Fonorow'', 18th Cir., DuPage County, Illinois, No. 01 L 820.</ref> Barrett had alleged that Fonorow reposted ten articles by Tim Bolen mischaracterizing him with several disparaging claims.<ref name="May redefine libel law"/> This case was dismissed.<ref name="fonorowappeal">See Circuit Court of Du Page County, '''', No. 2--02--0886.</ref><ref>{{cite news| title= Internet libel suit is tossed out; Decency Act protection cited by DuPage judge| author=Ted Gregory| publisher=''Chicago Tribune'' | date=]| page=D13}}</ref><ref name="fonorow3">Gregory C. Mosier and Tara I. Fitzgerald, ''Cyber Torts: Common Law and Statutory Restraints in the United States'', Journal of Internatiional Commercial Law and Technology, Vol.2,Issue 1(2007). | |||
</ref><!--source covers the case in passing in two paragraphs --> The Illinois 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed dismissal in 2003 and ruled that the CDA provides immunity for content posted online.<ref>''See'' ''Barrett v. Fonorow'', 799 N.E.2d 916, 343 Ill. App. 3d 1184 (Ill. App. 2003).</ref> This was the predominant—though criticized—interpretation of the CDA; the 2004 appellate decision in ''Barrett v. Rosenthal'' was one of the few authorities suggesting that the CDA did ''not'' automatically extend immunity to individuals reposting material online.<ref>{{cite news| title=Court gives go-ahead to defamation on the Web| author=Peter M. Katsaros; Fredrick S. Rhine | publisher=''Chicago Daily Law Bulletin'' | date=]}}</ref> | |||
'''''Barrett v. Koren''''' | |||
* Barrett filed a libel suit against Tedd Koren, D.C. alleging that Koren made libelous remarks about him in his newsletter.<ref name="koren1">Stephen Barrett, ''My Libel Suit against Tedd Koren, D.C.'', last revised on October 13, 2005. </ref> This case was dismissed by a Pennsylvania judge who found that Barrett had provided insufficient evidence to prove his claim,<ref name="koren2">Civil Action 2002-c-1837, Court of Common Pleas of Lehigh County.</ref> the dismissal was affirmed June 2007 upon appeal.<ref name="koren3"> Judgments entered and Opinions filed, SUPERIOR COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA, </ref><!-- no RS coverage--seems to just be "Chiropractors Claim Court Victory Against Infamous 'Quackbuster'" press release picked up by some publications with little apparent fact-checking. --> | |||
== Selected publications == | |||
{{Expand-section|date=July 2007}} | |||
* In 1985, Barrett was the author of an article in the ] that exposed commercial laboratories performing multimineral ]. He concluded that ''"commercial use of hair analysis in this manner is unscientific, economically wasteful, and probably illegal."''<ref name="hairanalysis">Barrett SJ (August 23, 1985). '']'' Vol. 254 No. 8.</ref> His report has been cited in later articles, including one which concluded that such testing was "unreliable."<ref>, Seidel S, et al. , '']''. 2001;285:67-72.</ref> | |||
A partial list of his (co)authored and (co)edited books include:<ref name="booklist">{{cite web|url=http://www.quackwatch.org/10Bio/biobooks.html|author=Barrett SJ|title=Books and book chapters|accessdate=2007-02-12|publisher=Quackwatch}}</ref> | |||
*''Consumer Health: A Guide to Intelligent Decisions'' - Barrett SJ, Jarvis WT, Kroger M, London WM (2006). (textbook, 8th ed.) McGraw-Hill, ISBN 0-07-248521-3 | |||
*''Dubious Cancer Treatment'' - Barrett SJ & Cassileth BR, editors (2001). Florida Division of the ] | |||
*''The Health Robbers: A Close Look at Quackery in America'' - Barrett SJ, Jarvis WT, eds. (1993). Prometheus Books, ISBN 0-87975-855-4 | |||
*''Health Schemes, Scams, and Frauds'' - Barrett SJ (1991). Consumer Reports Books, ISBN 0-89043-330-5 | |||
*''Reader's Guide to Alternative Health Methods'' - by Zwicky JF, Hafner AW, Barrett S, Jarvis WT (1993). ], ISBN 0-89970-525-1 | |||
*''The Vitamin Pushers: How the "Health Food" Industry Is Selling America a Bill of Goods'' - Barrett SJ, Herbert V (1991). Prometheus Books, ISBN 0-87975-909-7 | |||
*''Vitamins and Minerals: Help or Harm?'' - Marshall CW (1983). Lippincott Williams & Wilkins ISBN 0-397-53060-9 (edited by Barrett, won the ] award for best book of 1983 for the general public, republished by ]). | |||
== See also == | == See also == | ||
* '']'' | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | * ] | ||
* ] | * ] | ||
* ] | |||
* ] | * ] | ||
* ] | |||
* ] | * ] | ||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
== References == | == References == | ||
{{ |
{{Reflist|2}} | ||
== External links == | == External links == | ||
{{commons category}} | |||
* | |||
{{Authority control}} | |||
* - Stephen Barrett | |||
{{DEFAULTSORT:Barrett, Stephen}} | {{DEFAULTSORT:Barrett, Stephen}} | ||
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Latest revision as of 14:54, 6 December 2024
American psychiatrist (born 1933) For other people named Stephen Barrett, see Stephen Barrett (disambiguation).
Stephen Barrett | |
---|---|
Born | Stephen Joel Barrett 1933 (age 90–91) New York City, U.S. |
Education | Columbia University |
Occupation(s) | Psychiatrist, author, consumer advocate, webmaster |
Years active | 1961–1993 (psychiatry) |
Known for | Being the webmaster of Quackwatch |
Spouse | Judith Nevyas Barrett |
Children | 3 |
Website | QuackWatch.org |
Stephen Joel Barrett (/ˈbærɪt/; born 1933) is an American retired psychiatrist, author, co-founder of the National Council Against Health Fraud (NCAHF), and the webmaster of Quackwatch. He runs a number of websites dealing with quackery and health fraud. He focuses on consumer protection, medical ethics, and scientific skepticism.
Early life and education
Barrett was born in New York City. He is a 1957 graduate of the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons and completed his psychiatry residency in 1961. In 1968, he completed part of a correspondence course in American Law and Procedure at La Salle Extension University in Chicago.
Career
Barrett was a practicing physician until retiring from active practice in 1993. As of 2019, his medical license was listed as "Expired" in good standing: "No disciplinary actions were found for this license." A longtime resident of Allentown, Pennsylvania, Barrett now resides in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
In addition to webmastering his websites, Barrett was a co-founder, vice-president and a board member of the National Council Against Health Fraud (NCAHF). He is a scientific advisor to the American Council on Science and Health, and a fellow of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry (CSI). From 1987 through 1989, he taught health education at Pennsylvania State University.
Barrett was the consulting editor for the Consumer Health Library at Prometheus Books, and has been a peer-review panelist for two medical journals. He has also served on the editorial board of Medscape and the Scientific Review of Alternative Medicine. According to his website, he "has written more than 2,000 articles and delivered more than 300 talks at colleges, universities, medical schools, and professional meetings. His media appearances include Dateline, Today, Good Morning America, Primetime, Donahue, CNN, National Public Radio, and more than 200 other radio and television talk show interviews."
Quackwatch received the award of Best Physician-Authored Site by MD NetGuide, May 2003. In 1984, he received an FDA Commissioner's Special Citation Award for Public Service in fighting nutrition quackery. He was included in the list of outstanding skeptics of the 20th century by Skeptical Inquirer magazine. In 1986, he was awarded honorary membership in the American Dietetic Association. Barrett has been profiled in Biography Magazine (1998) and in Time (2001).
The magazine Spiked included Barrett in a survey of 134 persons they termed "key thinkers in science, technology and medicine." When he was asked: "What inspired you to take up science?" he replied that his appreciation of medical science:
probably began when I took a college course in medical statistics, and learned what makes the difference between scientific thought and poor reasoning. Medical school brought me in touch with the rapid and amazing strides being made in the understanding and treatment of disease. My anti-quackery activities have intensified my interest and concern in distinguishing science from pseudoscience, quackery and fraud.
Quackwatch
Main article: QuackwatchThe Quackwatch website is Barrett's main platform for describing and exposing what he and other contributors consider to be quackery and health fraud. The website was part of Quackwatch, Inc., a nonprofit corporation founded by Barrett that aims to "combat health-related frauds, myths, fads, fallacies, and misconduct." The non-profit was dissolved in 2008. Barrett's writing is supplemented with contributions from many scientific, technical, and lay volunteers and includes numerous references to published research articles. Barrett defines quackery as "anything involving overpromotion in the field of health," and reserves the word fraud "only for situations in which deliberate deception is involved." Barrett has become a "lightning rod" for controversy as a result of his criticisms of alternative medicine theories and practitioners. Barrett says he does not criticize conventional medicine because that would be "way outside scope." He states he does not give equal time to some subjects, and has written on his web site that "Quackery and fraud don't involve legitimate controversy and are not balanced subjects. I don't believe it is helpful to publish 'balanced' articles about unbalanced subjects." Barrett is at the forefront of exposing questionable aspects of chiropractic.
Barrett is a strong supporter of the HONcode and has made efforts to improve compliance with its rules and to expose those who abuse it.
A number of practitioners and supporters of alternative medicine oppose Barrett and Quackwatch for its criticism of alternative medicine. Donna Ladd, a journalist with The Village Voice, says Barrett relies mostly on negative research to criticize alternative medicine, rejecting most positive case studies as unreliable due to methodological flaws. According to Ladd, Barrett insists that most alternative therapies "simply should be disregarded without further research. 'A lot of things don't need to be tested they simply don't make any sense', he says, pointing to homeopathy, chiropractic, and acupuncture as examples of alternative treatments with no plausible mechanism of action."
Both website reviews and various journal articles mention or use as references Stephen Barrett's Quackwatch as a useful source for consumer information. However, other authors have criticised Quackwatch as being overly biased in its presentation.
In February 2020, Quackwatch became part of the Center for Inquiry. CFI maintains its various websites.
Publications
Barrett's articles include:
- In 1985, Barrett was the author of the "Commercial hair analysis. Science or scam?" article in the Journal of the American Medical Association that exposed commercial laboratories performing multimineral hair analysis. He commented that in his opinion, "commercial use of hair analysis in this manner is unscientific, economically wasteful, and probably illegal." His report has been cited in later articles, including one which concluded that such testing was "unreliable."
- "A Close Look at Therapeutic Touch", Rosa L, Rosa E, Sarner L, Barrett SJ. (April 1, 1998). JAMA, Vol. 279, No. 13, pp 1005–1010.
His (co)authored and (co)edited books include:
- Consumer Health: A Guide to Intelligent Decisions, Barrett S, London W, Kroger M, Hall H, Baratz R (2013). (textbook, 9th ed.) McGraw-Hill, ISBN 978-0078028489
- Dubious Cancer Treatment, Barrett SJ & Cassileth BR, editors (2001). Florida Division of the American Cancer Society
- Chemical Sensitivity: The Truth About Environmental Illness (Consumer Health Library), Barrett, SJ & Gots, Ronald E. (1998). Prometheus Books. ISBN 9781573921954
- The Health Robbers: A Close Look at Quackery in America, Barrett SJ, Jarvis WT, eds. (1993). Prometheus Books, ISBN 0-87975-855-4
- Health Schemes, Scams, and Frauds, Barrett SJ (1991). Consumer Reports Books, ISBN 0-89043-330-5
- Reader's Guide to Alternative Health Methods, Zwicky JF, Hafner AW, Barrett S, Jarvis WT (1993). American Medical Association, ISBN 0-89970-525-1
- The Vitamin Pushers: How the "Health Food" Industry Is Selling America a Bill of Goods, Barrett SJ, Herbert V (1991). Prometheus Books, ISBN 0-87975-909-7
- Vitamins and Minerals: Help or Harm?, Marshall CW (1983). Lippincott Williams & Wilkins ISBN 0-397-53060-9 (edited by Barrett, won the American Medical Writers Association award for best book of 1983 for the general public, republished by Consumer Reports Books).
Collections of articles:
- Paranormal Claims: A Critical Analysis, 2007, edited by Bryan Farha, University Press of America, ISBN 978-0-7618-3772-5. Three of the eighteen chapters are written by Barrett.
See also
References
- Barrett, Stephen (December 21, 2016). "Stephen Barrett, M.D. Curriculum Vitae". Quackwatch. Retrieved February 25, 2017.
Wife, Judith Nevyas Barrett, M.D., is a retired family practitioner.
- Rosen, Marjorie (October 1998). "Interviews – Stephen Barrett, M.D." Biography Magazine. Retrieved February 25, 2017.
- Barrett, Stephen (June 24, 2007). "Curriculum Vitae". Quackwatch. Retrieved July 18, 2007.
- "Pennsylvania Department of State; Stephen Barret Medical License Status and standing". Pennsylvania Department of State; to be considered a primary resource. Retrieved November 19, 2015.
- Wlazelek, Ann (June 13, 2007). "Allentown critic of quacks moves to 'milder winters'". The Morning Call. Retrieved September 25, 2014.
- "Prometheus Books Spring-Summer 2007 Trade Catalog" (PDF). p. 63. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 14, 2006. Retrieved March 29, 2007.
- ^ Barrett, Stephen (June 4, 2007). "Stephen Barrett, M.D., Biographical Sketch". Quackwatch. Retrieved August 12, 2007.
- Williams, Elaine S (April 21, 1999). "The JAMA 1998 Editorial Peer Review Audit". Journal of the American Medical Association. 281 (15): 1443. doi:10.1001/jama.281.15.1443.
- "JAMA Peer Reviewers for 2003". JAMA. 291 (6): 751–764. February 11, 2004. doi:10.1001/jama.291.6.751. S2CID 162455343.
- "Thanks to Reviewers-2001". Annals of Internal Medicine. 135 (12): 1098–1106. December 18, 2001. doi:10.7326/0003-4819-135-12-200112180-00033. S2CID 53089455.
- Lundberg, GD (1999). "Introducing the Editorial Board of Medscape". MedGenMed: E28. PMID 11104430.
- "The Scientific Review of Alternative Medicine". Quackwatch. August 15, 2002. Retrieved February 15, 2015.
- Sintay and Hagan. From Farrah Fawcett to Suzanne Somers: Is Alternative Medicine Safe?. Barrett participated on Good Morning America, April 7, 2009.
- "Pass the Envelope, Please...: Best Physician- Authored Site". MD Net Guide. May–June 2003. Archived from the original on June 25, 2003. Retrieved April 3, 2009.
- ^ Joel R. Cooper. "Consumer Health Fraud...don't be a victim! Interview with Stephen Barrett, M.D." The Medical Reporter. Archived from the original on December 12, 2006.
- "Ten Outstanding Skeptics of the Century". Skeptical Inquirer. Archived from the original on July 15, 2007. Retrieved August 12, 2007.
- Rosen, Marjorie (October 1998). "Interview with Stephen Barrett, M.D". Biography Magazine. Retrieved August 16, 2007.
- ^ Jaroff, Leon (April 30, 2001). "The Man Who Loves To Bust Quacks". Time. Archived from the original on April 6, 2005. Retrieved August 16, 2007.
- "What Inspired You? – Index of Survey responses". Spiked-Online. Retrieved July 23, 2007.
- "What Inspired You? – Introduction". Spiked-Online. Retrieved July 23, 2007.
- ^ Barrett, Stephen. "What Inspired You? – Survey responses – Dr Stephen Barrett". Spiked-Online. Archived from the original on September 20, 2012. Retrieved July 23, 2007.
- Baldwin, Fred D. "If It Quacks Like a Duck ..." MedHunters. Archived from the original on February 6, 2008. Retrieved September 16, 2007.
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Barrett, Stephen, MD. "Quackwatch mission statement". Quackwatch. Retrieved August 16, 2007.
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: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) -
Barrett, Stephen, MD (January 28, 2003). "150+ Scientific and Technical Advisors". Quackwatch. Retrieved May 21, 2015.
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Barrett, Stephen, MD. "Quackery: How Should It Be Defined?". Quackwatch. Retrieved August 16, 2007.
{{cite news}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - Barrett SJ, Jarvis WT. "Quackery, Fraud and "Alternative" Methods: Important Definitions". Quackwatch. Retrieved August 16, 2007.
- ^ Dr. Who? Diagnosing Medical Fraud May Require a Second Opinion. Archived January 23, 2014, at the Wayback Machine by Donna Ladd, The Village Voice, June 23–29, 1999. Retrieved September 2, 2006
- Barrett SJ. "How do you respond to accusations that your writing is unbalanced?". Quackwatch. Retrieved August 16, 2007.
- Singh S, Ernst E (2008). "The truth about chiropractic therapy". Trick or Treatment: The Undeniable Facts about Alternative Medicine. W.W. Norton. pp. 171–72. ISBN 978-0-393-06661-6.
- Christopher Wanjek. Attacking Their HONor: Some Dispute Value of Logo Used to Verify Accuracy, Integrity Of Health Web Site Contents. The Washington Post, April 20, 2004; Page HE01
- Hufford, David J. (2003). "Symposium article: Evaluating Complementary and Alternative Medicine: The Limits of Science and Scientists". The Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics. 31 (2): 198–212. doi:10.1111/j.1748-720x.2003.tb00081.x. PMID 12964264. S2CID 29859505.. Hufford's symposium presentation was the counterpoint for another doctor's presentation, which argued that "alternative medicine" is not medicine at all. See Schneiderman, Lawrence J. (2003). "Symposium article: The (Alternative) Medicalization of Life". The Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics. 31 (2): 191–198. doi:10.1111/j.1748-720x.2003.tb00080.x. PMID 12964263. S2CID 43786245.
- Arabella Dymoke (2004). The Good Web Guide. The Good Web Guide Ltd. p. 35. ISBN 978-1-903282-46-5.
Quackwatch is without doubt an important and useful information resource and injects a healthy dose of scepticism into reviewing popular health information. Its aim is to investigate questionable claims made in some sectors of what is now a multi-million pound healthcare industry.
- Nguyen-Khoa, Bao-Anh (July 1999). "Selected Web Site Reviews — Quackwatch.com". The Consultant Pharmacist. Archived from the original on March 18, 2009. Retrieved June 24, 2013.
- "Best of the Web website reviews: Quackwatch". Forbes. Archived from the original on January 14, 2008.
- "Diet Channel Award Review Of Quackwatch". Retrieved September 18, 2007.
Quackwatch is a very informative site which informs you about health fraud and gives you advice on many decisions.
- "The Best of The Web Gets Better". US News. November 7, 1999. Archived from the original on May 24, 2006.
- Pray, W. S. (2006). "Ethical, Scientific, and Educational Concerns with Unproven Medications". American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education. 70 (6): 141. doi:10.5688/aj7006141. PMC 1803699. PMID 17332867.
- Chonko, Lawrence B. (2004). "If it Walks Like a Duck...: Concerns about Quackery in Marketing Education". Journal of Marketing Education. 26: 4–16. doi:10.1177/0273475303257763. S2CID 167338734. ERIC EJ807197.
- Sampson, Wallace; Atwood IV, Kimball (2005). "Propagation of the absurd: Demarcation of the absurd revisited". The Medical Journal of Australia. 183 (11–12): 580–1. doi:10.5694/j.1326-5377.2005.tb00040.x. PMID 16336135. S2CID 43272637.
- Cunningham, Eleese; Marcason, Wendy (2001). "Internet hoaxes: How to spot them and how to debunk them". Journal of the American Dietetic Association. 101 (4): 460. doi:10.1016/S0002-8223(01)00117-1.
- "Click here: How to find reliable online health information and resources". JAMA. 280 (15): 1380. 1998. doi:10.1001/jama.280.15.1380. PMID 9794323.
- Larkin, Marilynn (1998). "Medical quackery squashers on the web". The Lancet. 351 (9114): 1520. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(05)78918-2. S2CID 54300255.
- Okasha, Mona (2000). "Quackery on the web – questionable cancer therapies". The Lancet Oncology. 1 (4): 251. doi:10.1016/S1470-2045(00)00162-5.
- Cuzzell, Jane. (2000). "Quackwatch: Your Guide to Health Fraud, Quackery, and Intelligent Decisions", Dermatology Nursing, Apr. 2000, p. 134. Accessed 6 November 2019.
- Vankevitch, Ned (2002). "Limiting Pluralism". In Ernst, Waltraud (ed.). Plural medicine, tradition and modernity, 1800-2000. New York: Routledge. pp. 219–244. ISBN 978-0-415-23122-0.
- Fidalgo, Paul (February 26, 2020). "Quackwatch Joins the Center for Inquiry". Center for Inquiry. Retrieved February 26, 2020.
- Barrett SJ (August 23, 1985). Commercial hair analysis. Science or scam? JAMA Vol. 254 No. 8.
- Assessment of Commercial Laboratories Performing Hair Mineral Analysis, Seidel S, et al., JAMA. 2001;285:67–72.
- Barrett SJ. "Books and book chapters". Quackwatch. Retrieved February 12, 2007.
External links
Categories:- 1933 births
- Living people
- American health activists
- American psychiatrists
- American science writers
- American skeptics
- Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons alumni
- American critics of alternative medicine
- La Salle Extension University alumni
- Pennsylvania State University faculty
- Writers from Allentown, Pennsylvania
- Writers from New York City