Stephen Barrett#Libel suits filed by Barrett

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.{{cite news |first=Stephen |last=Barrett |title=Curriculum Vitae |url=http://www.quackwatch.org/10Bio/biovitae.html |publisher=Quackwatch |date=June 24, 2007 |access-date=July 18, 2007}}

A longtime resident of Allentown, Pennsylvania, Barrett now resides in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.{{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=The Morning Call |date=June 13, 2007 |access-date=September 25, 2014}}

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,{{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}} and has been a peer-review panelist for {{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}} two{{cite journal |first=Elaine S |last=Williams |title=The JAMA 1998 Editorial Peer Review Audit |journal=Journal of the American Medical Association |date=April 21, 1999 | doi = 10.1001/jama.281.15.1443 |volume=281 |issue=15 |page=1443|doi-access=free }}{{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}}{{cite journal |title=Thanks to Reviewers-2001 |journal=Annals of Internal Medicine |date=December 18, 2001 |volume=135 |issue=12 |pages=1098–1106 |doi=10.7326/0003-4819-135-12-200112180-00033|s2cid=53089455 |doi-access= }} medical journals. He has also served on the editorial board of 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}} and the Scientific Review of Alternative Medicine.{{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}} 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."Sintay and Hagan. [https://abcnews.go.com/Health/Story?id=7276758&page=2 From Farrah Fawcett to Suzanne Somers: Is Alternative Medicine Safe?]. Barrett participated on Good Morning America, April 7, 2009.

Quackwatch received the award of Best Physician-Authored Site by MD NetGuide, May 2003.{{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}} In 1984, he received an FDA Commissioner's Special Citation Award for Public Service in fighting nutrition quackery.{{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 }} He was included in the list of outstanding skeptics of the 20th century by Skeptical Inquirer magazine.{{cite web |title=Ten Outstanding Skeptics of the Century |url=http://www.csicop.org/articles/19991214-century/ |work=Skeptical Inquirer |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}} In 1986, he was awarded honorary membership in the American Dietetic Association. Barrett has been profiled in Biography Magazine (1998){{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}} and in Time (2001).{{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/20160905181736/http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1101010430-107254,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 5, 2016 |work=Time |date=April 30, 2001 |access-date=August 16, 2007}}

The magazine Spiked included Barrett in a survey of 134 persons{{cite news |title=What Inspired You? – Index of Survey responses |url=http://www.spiked-online.com/index.php?/inspired/atoz/ |work=Spiked-Online |access-date=July 23, 2007 }} they termed "key thinkers in science, technology and medicine."{{cite news |title=What Inspired You? – Introduction |url=http://www.spiked-online.com/index.php?/inspired/ |work=Spiked-Online |access-date=July 23, 2007 }}{{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 }}

{{main|Quackwatch}}

In 1996, Barrett launched Quackwatch, a website aimed at investigating health-related frauds, myths, fads, fallacies, and misconceptions.{{cite news|first=Fred D|last=Baldwin|url=http://www.medhunters.com/articles/ifItQuacksLikeADuck.html|title=If It Quacks Like a Duck ...|access-date=September 16, 2007|publisher=MedHunters |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080206060833/http://www.medhunters.com/articles/ifItQuacksLikeADuck.html|archive-date = February 6, 2008}} Initially operated under the nonprofit Quackwatch, Inc., the organization was dissolved in 2008.{{cite news|first=Stephen, MD|last=Barrett|url=http://www.quackwatch.org/00AboutQuackwatch/mission.html|title=Quackwatch mission statement|access-date=August 16, 2007|publisher=Quackwatch}} In 2020, the website became part of the Center for Inquiry, which now maintains its content.{{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}}

Barrett defines quackery as "anything involving overpromotion in the field of health,"{{cite news|first=Stephen, MD|last=Barrett|title=Quackery: How Should It Be Defined?|url=http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/quackdef.html|publisher=Quackwatch|access-date=August 16, 2007}} reserving the term "fraud" for instances involving deliberate deception.{{cite news|author=Barrett SJ, Jarvis WT|url=http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/quackdef2.html|title=Quackery, Fraud and "Alternative" Methods: Important Definitions|publisher=Quackwatch|access-date=August 16, 2007}} The site includes contributions from scientific, technical, and lay volunteers, with numerous references to published research articles.{{cite news|first=Stephen, MD|last=Barrett|title=150+ Scientific and Technical Advisors|url=http://www.quackwatch.org/09Advisors/advbd.html|publisher=Quackwatch|date=January 28, 2003|access-date=May 21, 2015}}

Barrett has been a vocal critic of alternative medicine practices, including chiropractic, homeopathy, and acupuncture. He has stated that he does not aim to provide balanced coverage on these topics, asserting that "quackery and fraud don't involve legitimate controversy and are not balanced subjects."{{cite news|url=http://www.quackwatch.org/00AboutQuackwatch/faq2.html|author=Barrett SJ|title=How do you respond to accusations that your writing is unbalanced?|access-date=August 16, 2007|publisher=Quackwatch}} This stance has led to criticism from proponents of alternative medicine, who argue that his approach lacks objectivity.[http://www.villagevoice.com/1999-06-22/news/doctor-who/ Dr. Who? Diagnosing Medical Fraud May Require a Second Opinion.] {{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, The Village Voice, June 23–29, 1999. Retrieved September 2, 2006{{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 }}

Despite the criticism, Quackwatch has been cited by various media outlets,{{cite book|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.}}{{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=The Consultant Pharmacist|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 }}{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/bow/b2c/review.jhtml?id=865|work=Forbes|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 }}{{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.}}{{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 }} academic journals,{{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}}{{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}}}}{{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}}{{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}}{{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}}{{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}} and professional organizations as a resource for information on questionable health practices. However, some authors have described the site as overly biased in its presentation.{{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 }}Cuzzell, Jane. (2000). "[https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A62140088/AONE?u=unisa&sid=AONE&xid=0350297 Quackwatch: Your Guide to Health Fraud, Quackery, and Intelligent Decisions]", Dermatology Nursing, Apr. 2000, p. 134. Accessed 6 November 2019.{{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}}

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."Barrett SJ (August 23, 1985). [http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/254/8/1041?view=abstract Commercial hair analysis. Science or scam?] JAMA Vol. 254 No. 8. His report has been cited in later articles, including one which concluded that such testing was "unreliable."[http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/285/1/67 Assessment of Commercial Laboratories Performing Hair Mineral Analysis], Seidel S, et al., JAMA. 2001;285:67–72.
• [http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/279/13/1005 "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:{{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}}

• 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.

• Barrett v. Rosenthal
• Consumer protection
• Debunker
• Evidence-based medicine
• Pseudoscience

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• [http://www.quackwatch.org/ Quackwatch.org]

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Barrett, Stephen}}

Category:1933 births

Category:Living people

Category:American health activists

Category:American psychiatrists

Category:American science writers

Category:American skeptics

Category:Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons alumni

Category:American critics of alternative medicine

Category:La Salle Extension University alumni

Category:Pennsylvania State University faculty

Category:Writers from Allentown, Pennsylvania

Category:Writers from New York City