| Revision as of 01:30, 4 September 2006 editArbustoo (talk | contribs)12,546 edits →Critics: explain← Previous edit | Revision as of 04:27, 4 September 2006 edit undo219.89.191.230 (talk) →Critics: not relevant in this article and POV - reader can check the references for more informationNext edit → | ||
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| ==Critics== | ==Critics== | ||
| {{Main|Stephen Barrett}} | {{Main|Stephen Barrett}} | ||
| The site and its founder have critics such as Tim Bolen, webmaster of Quackpot Watch <ref></ref>, a website that challenges Barrett and some of the views presented on Quackwatch. Barrett has responded to Bolen |
The site and its founder have critics such as Tim Bolen, webmaster of Quackpot Watch <ref></ref>, a website that challenges Barrett and some of the views presented on Quackwatch. Barrett has responded to Bolen. ref> by Stephen Barrett, M.D.</ref> | ||
| Peter Barry Chowka, a former adviser to the National Institutes of Health's Office of Alternative Medicine, has said that Barrett "seems to be putting down trying to be objective." He went on to state that "Quackwatch.com is consistently provocative and entertaining and occasionally informative,.....But I personally think he's running against the tide of history. But that's his problem, not ours." <ref>Donna Ladd, ''Diagnosing Medical Fraud May Require a Second Opinion'', The Village Voice, June 23 - 29, 1999 </ref> | Peter Barry Chowka, a former adviser to the National Institutes of Health's Office of Alternative Medicine, has said that Barrett "seems to be putting down trying to be objective." He went on to state that "Quackwatch.com is consistently provocative and entertaining and occasionally informative,.....But I personally think he's running against the tide of history. But that's his problem, not ours." <ref>Donna Ladd, ''Diagnosing Medical Fraud May Require a Second Opinion'', The Village Voice, June 23 - 29, 1999 </ref> | ||
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| Burton Goldberg, of Alternative Medicine Digest reported, "In the paradox of 'quackbusting,' the quackbusters say they're protecting public health, but in fact, they're abandoning the public to their own suffering to protect the financial interests of conventional medicine, which has no interest in or ability to produce benefits for these conditions. The 'quackbusters' say they're serving the public, but the truth is they're grossly disserving patients."<ref>Burton Goldberg, ''You Don't have to be Sick: What's Eating Stephen Barrett?'', Alternative Medicine Digest, July 1998 </ref> | Burton Goldberg, of Alternative Medicine Digest reported, "In the paradox of 'quackbusting,' the quackbusters say they're protecting public health, but in fact, they're abandoning the public to their own suffering to protect the financial interests of conventional medicine, which has no interest in or ability to produce benefits for these conditions. The 'quackbusters' say they're serving the public, but the truth is they're grossly disserving patients."<ref>Burton Goldberg, ''You Don't have to be Sick: What's Eating Stephen Barrett?'', Alternative Medicine Digest, July 1998 </ref> | ||
| John Bryant |
John Bryant state "The Quackwatch website, then, may be seen as a good representation of conventional medical opinion against the assault of alternative therapies. Its significance, however, is that not only does it fail in its intention of making alternative medicine out to be quackery, but in fact it inadvertently makes the case that conventional medicine is itself quackery " <ref>John Bryant, ''Quackwatch and the Quackery of Conventional Medicine'', </ref> | ||
| Ray Sahelian MD, another critic of Quackwatch, asks "Why has Stephen Barrett, M.D. focused most of his attention on the nutritional industry and has hardly spent time pointing out the billions of dollars wasted each year by consumers on certain prescription and non-prescription pharmaceutical drugs?" <ref>Ray Sahelian, M.D. ''''. Accessed Sept. 3, 2006</ref> |
Ray Sahelian MD, another critic of Quackwatch, asks "Why has Stephen Barrett, M.D. focused most of his attention on the nutritional industry and has hardly spent time pointing out the billions of dollars wasted each year by consumers on certain prescription and non-prescription pharmaceutical drugs?" <ref>Ray Sahelian, M.D. ''''. Accessed Sept. 3, 2006</ref> | ||
| ==References== | ==References== | ||
Revision as of 04:27, 4 September 2006
Quackwatch is a website operated by Quackwatch, Inc., an American non-profit organization whose stated purpose is to "combat health-related frauds, myths, fads, and fallacies" and whose "primary focus is on quackery-related information that is difficult or impossible to get elsewhere". Quackwatch is operated by Stephen Barrett, M.D., a retired psychiatrist and professional expert witness who founded the non-profit in 1969, with input from his board of advisors, and help from numerous volunteers. The website itself was started in 1997.
Mission and scope
Quackwatch reports that its activities include:
- Investigating questionable health claims
- Answering inquiries about medical products and services
- Advising "quackery victims"
- Distributing publications on medical information
- Reporting illegal marketing of medical methods and products
- Assisting or generating consumer-protection lawsuits
- Attacking misleading advertising on the Internet
The website contains essays on a variety of health-related therapies, labeled "quackery" by Quackwatch. The essays are not peer reviewed scientific papers, but are mainly written by Barrett or his 70+ member board of advisors (free to join from the website), for the non-specialist reader in a style not unlike Consumer Reports and other general readership publications. Quackwatch sets out to show therapies as "quackery" by presenting scientific evidence and arguments that support that conclusion. Barrett shows how some "quackery" therapies could be (and in some cases have been) dangerous. The site contains information about specific people who perform, market, and use "quackery" therapies, including some cases where they have been convicted of crimes, either for the quackery in question or for other things. The website also presents lists of sources, individuals, and groups which Quackwatch considers questionable and non-recommendable, including two-time Nobel Prize winner Linus Pauling (for his claims about massive doses of Vitamin C ) and integrative medicine proponent Andrew Weil, MD.
Reporting
Quackwatch has been involved in reporting on therapeutic touch, Vitamin O, Almon Glenn Braswell dietary supplements, especially when sold by doctors, , and the Mexican clinic where Coretta Scott King died.
The site is part of a network of related sites, such as Homeowatch (on homeopathy), Credential Watch (devoted to exposing degree mills), Chirobase (specifically devoted to chiropractic), and others, each devoted to specific topics.
Awards and honors
In 1998, the Journal of the American Medical Association named Quackwatch one of nine "select sites that provide reliable health information and resources." in 1999, U.S. News & World Report listed it in their Best of the Web (one of three medical sites), and Forbes named it among the "Best of the Web" from 2000 to 2004.
Critics
Main article: Stephen BarrettThe site and its founder have critics such as Tim Bolen, webmaster of Quackpot Watch , a website that challenges Barrett and some of the views presented on Quackwatch. Barrett has responded to Bolen. ref>A Response to Tim Bolen by Stephen Barrett, M.D.</ref>
Peter Barry Chowka, a former adviser to the National Institutes of Health's Office of Alternative Medicine, has said that Barrett "seems to be putting down trying to be objective." He went on to state that "Quackwatch.com is consistently provocative and entertaining and occasionally informative,.....But I personally think he's running against the tide of history. But that's his problem, not ours."
Burton Goldberg, of Alternative Medicine Digest reported, "In the paradox of 'quackbusting,' the quackbusters say they're protecting public health, but in fact, they're abandoning the public to their own suffering to protect the financial interests of conventional medicine, which has no interest in or ability to produce benefits for these conditions. The 'quackbusters' say they're serving the public, but the truth is they're grossly disserving patients."
John Bryant state "The Quackwatch website, then, may be seen as a good representation of conventional medical opinion against the assault of alternative therapies. Its significance, however, is that not only does it fail in its intention of making alternative medicine out to be quackery, but in fact it inadvertently makes the case that conventional medicine is itself quackery "
Ray Sahelian MD, another critic of Quackwatch, asks "Why has Stephen Barrett, M.D. focused most of his attention on the nutritional industry and has hardly spent time pointing out the billions of dollars wasted each year by consumers on certain prescription and non-prescription pharmaceutical drugs?"
References
- Rosen, Marjorie (October 1998). Interview with Stephen Barrett, M.D. Biography Magazine
- Internet Archives copy of original site.
- Jaroff, Leon (April 30, 2001). The Man Who Loves To Bust Quacks. Time Magazine
- Barrett SJ. Nonrecommended Sources of Health Advice Quackwatch. Retrieved July 19, 2006.
- Barrett SJ. Questionable Organizations: An Overview. Quackwatch. Retrieved July 19, 2006.
- Barrett SJ (May 5, 2001). The Dark Side of Linus Pauling's Legacy. via Quackwatch. Retrieved July 29, 2006.
- Relamn AS (December 14, 1998). A Trip to Stonesville: Some Notes on Andrew Weil. New Republic, via Quackwatch.
- Kolata, Gina (April 1, 1998). A Child's Paper Poses a Medical Challenge. New York Times
- Siwolop, Sana (January 7, 2001). Back Pain? Arthritis? Step Right Up to the Mouse. New York Times
- Eichenwald, Kurt and Michael Moss (February 6, 2001). Pardon for Subject of Inquiry Worries Prosecutors. New York Times
- Associated Press (September 13, 2004). Man Once Pardoned By Clinton Again Faces Prison.
- Fessenden, Ford with Christoper Drew (March 31, 2000). Bottom Line in Mind, Doctors Sell Ephedra. New York Times
- McKinley, James C Jr. (February 1, 2006). 'Eclectic' Hospital With a Founder Prone to Legal Problems. New York Times
- Journal of the American Medical Association 280:1380, 1998.
- Awards and honors
- Quackpot Watch
- Donna Ladd, Diagnosing Medical Fraud May Require a Second Opinion, The Village Voice, June 23 - 29, 1999 available online
- Burton Goldberg, You Don't have to be Sick: What's Eating Stephen Barrett?, Alternative Medicine Digest, July 1998 available online
- John Bryant, Quackwatch and the Quackery of Conventional Medicine,
- Ray Sahelian, M.D. Quackwatch review. Accessed Sept. 3, 2006
See also
- Alternative medicine
- National_Council_Against_Health_Fraud
- Pseudoscience
- Scientific_skepticism
- Skepticism
External links
- Quackwatch
- QuackpotWatch - critical