Stephen Barrett

Infobox Person


image_size = 150px
name = Stephen J. Barrett, MD
caption =
birth_date = 1933
birth_place = New York City
death_date =
death_place =
occupation = Psychiatrist, Author, Consumer Advocate, Webmaster
website =

Stephen J. Barrett (born 1933) is a retired American 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. Barrett's critics say he lacks objectivity. He has brought several defamation lawsuits against a number of them with mixed results. Numerous sources have cited Quackwatch as a useful source for online consumer information.

Biography

Barrett is a 1957 graduate of the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons and completed his psychiatry residency in 1961. In 1967 and 1968 he followed part of a correspondence course in American Law and Procedure at La Salle Extension University (Chicago).cite news
first=Stephen
last=Barrett
title=Curriculum Vitae
url=http://www.quackwatch.org/10Bio/biovitae.html
publisher=Quackwatch
date=June 24, 2007
accessdate=2007-07-18] He was a licensed physician until retiring from active practice in 1993, and his medical license is currently listed as "Active-Retired" in good standing.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] 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=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=The Morning Call
date=June 13, 2007
accessdate=2007-07-21]

In addition to webmastering his websites, Barrett is a co-founder, vice-president and a board member of the National Council Against Health Fraud (NCAHF). He is an 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 is 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|accessdate=2007-03-29
format=PDF|work=|publisher=|pages=p. 63] has been a peer-review panelist for at leastcite 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
accessdate=2007-08-12] twocite news
first=Elaine S
last=Williams
title=The JAMA 1998 Editorial Peer Review Audit
url=http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/281/15/1443?maxtoshow=&HITS=150&hits=150&RESULTFORMAT=1&andorexacttitle=and&titleabstract=peer+reviewers&andorexacttitleabs=phrase&andorexactfulltext=and&searchid=1&FIRSTINDEX=0&sortspec=relevance&resourcetype=HWCIT
publisher=Journal of the American Medical Association
date=April 21, 1999
accessdate=2007-08-12] cite news
first=
last=
title=Thanks to Reviewers-2001
url=http://www.annals.org/cgi/content/full/135/12/1098?maxtoshow=&HITS=10&hits=10&RESULTFORMAT=1&andorexacttitle=and&titleabstract=peer+reviewers&andorexacttitleabs=phrase&andorexactfulltext=and&searchid=1&FIRSTINDEX=0&sortspec=relevance&fdate=1/1/1997&tdate=3/31/2005&resourcetype=HWCIT,HWELTR
publisher=Annals of Internal Medicine
date=December 18, 2001|Volume 135 Issue 12|Pages 1098-1106
accessdate=2007-08-12] medical journals. He has also served on the editorial board of Medscapecite news
first=
last=
title=Introducing the Editorial Board of Medscape
url=http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/407984
publisher=Medscape
date=
accessdate=2007-09-03] and The Scientific Review of Alternative Medicine.cite news
first=
last=
title=The Scientific Review of Alternative Medicine
url=http://www.hutch.demon.co.uk/SRAM/index.htm
publisher=The Scientific Review of Alternative Medicine
date=
accessdate=2007-09-12] 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", the "Today Show", "Good Morning America", "Primetime", "Donahue", CNN, National Public Radio, and more than 200 other radio and television talk show interviews."

Barrett has received a number of awards and recognition for his consumer protection work against quackery. Quackwatch received the award of "Best Physician-Authored Site" by MD NetGuide, May 2003. [http://web.archive.org/web/20050306025246/http://www.mdnetguide.com/departments/may_june2003/cover.html Pass the Envelope, Please...: "Best Physician- Authored Site"] "MDNetGuide", May/June 2003.] In 1984, he received an FDA Commissioner's Special Citation Award for Public Service in fighting nutrition quackery.Joel R. Cooper. [http://medicalreporter.health.org/tmr0199/consumerfraud.html Consumer Health Fraud...don't be a victim!] Interview with Stephen Barrett, M.D., "The Medical Reporter"] He received multiple votes or at least one first-place vote in "10 outstanding skeptics of the 20th century by "Skeptical Inquirer" magazine.cite news
first=
last=
title=Ten Outstanding Skeptics of the Century
url=http://www.csicop.org/articles/19991214-century/
work=Scientifically Investigating Paranormal and Fringe Science Claims
publisher=Skeptical Inquirer
date=
accessdate=2007-08-12] 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
publisher=Biography Magazine
date=October 1998
accessdate=2007-08-16] and in "Time Magazine" (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
publisher=Time Magazine
date=April 30, 2001
accessdate=2007-08-16]

The magazine "Spiked-online" included Barrett in a survey of 134 personscite news
first=
last=
title=What Inspired You? — Index of Survey responses
url=http://www.spiked-online.com/index.php?/inspired/atoz/
publisher=Spiked-Online
date=
accessdate=2007-07-23
quote=] they termed "key thinkers in science, technology and medicine."cite news
first=
last=
title=What Inspired You? — Introduction
url=http://www.spiked-online.com/index.php?/inspired/
publisher=Spiked-Online
date=
accessdate=2007-07-23
quote=] 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
publisher=Spiked-Online
date=
accessdate=2007-07-23
quote=] 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."

Consumer information

The Quackwatch website is Barrett's main platform for describing and exposing what he and other contributors consider to be quackery and health fraud.cite news
first=Fred D
last=Baldwin
url=http://www.medhunters.com/articles/ifItQuacksLikeADuck.html
title=If It Quacks Like a Duck ...
accessdate=2007-09-16
publisher=MedHunters] The website is part of Quackwatch, Inc., a nonprofit corporation that aims to "combat health-related frauds, myths, fads, fallacies, and misconduct."cite news
first=Stephen, MD
last=Barrett
url=http://www.quackwatch.org/00AboutQuackwatch/mission.html
title=Quackwatch mission statement
accessdate=2007-08-16
publisher=Quackwatch] Barrett's writing is supplemented with contributions from 150+ scientific, technical, and lay volunteers and includes 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
accessdate=2007-08-16] 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
date=
accessdate=2007-08-16] and reserves the word "fraud" "only for situations in which deliberate deception is involved."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
accessdate=2007-08-16]

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 [his] scope." [http://www.villagevoice.com/news/9925,ladd,6617,8.html "Dr. Who? Diagnosing Medical Fraud May Require a Second Opinion".] by Donna Ladd, The Village Voice, June 23 - 29, 1999. Retrieved September 2, 2006] 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."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?
accessdate=2007-08-16
publisher=Quackwatch]

A number of practitioners and supporters of alternative medicine criticize Barrett and Quackwatch for its criticism of alternative medicine.Hufford DJ. David J Hufford, "Symposium article: Evaluating Complementary and Alternative Medicine: The Limits of Science and Scientists." J Law, Medicine & Ethics, 31 (2003): 198-212. Hufford's symposium presentation was the counterpoint for another doctor's presentation, which argued that "alternative medicine" is not medicine at all. See Lawrence J. Schneiderman, "Symposium article: The (Alternative) Medicalization of Life." J Law, Medicine & Ethics, 31 (2003): 191-198.] 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. She further writes that Barrett insists that most alternative therapies simply should be disregarded without further research. "A lot of things don't need to be tested [because] they simply don't make any sense," he says, pointing to homeopathy, chiropractic, and acupuncture, among a myriad of other things.

Barrett's involvement in the legal system has also spawned controversy about his objectivity 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, homeopathy, and other areas of alternative medicine. This has led to him being criticized for his online activities and consumer activism.

Some sources that mention Stephen Barrett's "Quackwatch" as a useful source for consumer information include website reviews,cite news
first=
last=
title=Quackwatch
url=http://new.thegoodwebguide.co.uk/index.php?rid=1772
work=
publisher=The Good Web Guide
date=
accessdate=2007-10-13
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.] [http://www.forbes.com/bow/b2c/review.jhtml?id=865 Forbes.com, "Best of the Web" website reviews: Quackwatch.] ] cite news
first=
last=
title=Diet Channel Award Review Of Quackwatch
url=http://www.thedietchannel.com/Quackwatch-Review.htm
work=
publisher=
date=
accessdate=2007-09-18
quote=Quackwatch is a very informative site which informs you about health fraud and gives you advice on many decisions.] [Han LF. [http://www.ascp.com/publications/tcp/1999/jul/access.shtml Selected Web Site Reviews, Quackwatch.com] ] [ [http://www.usnews.com/usnews/culture/articles/991115/archive_002597_7.htm U.S. News & World Report: The Best of The Web Gets Better] ] government agencies,cite news
first=
last=
title=Science Panel on Interactive Communication and Health
url=http://www.health.gov/scipich/
work=
publisher=U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
date=July 11, 2002
accessdate=2007-09-12
quote=] cite news
first=
last=
title=U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
url=http://www.healthfinder.gov/search/default.asp?sort=date%253AD%253AL%253Ad1&output=xml&ie=UTF-8&client=healthfinder2&lr=lang_en&numgm=5&site=Federal%7Cnonprofit&q=quackwatch&submit1=Search
work=healthfinder.gov
publisher=National Health Information Center
date=
accessdate=2007-09-12
quote=Quackwatch is available from their database.] various journalsW Steven Pray. Ethical, Scientific, and Educational Concerns With Unproven Medications. "American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education". Alexandria: 2006. Vol. 70, Iss. 6; pg. O1, 14 pgs. Quackwatch is named as a reliable source together with Skeptical Enquirer, specifically for Pharmacy Course on Unproven Medications and Therapies.] Lawrence B Chonko. If It Walks like a Duck . . . : Concerns about Quackery in Marketing Education. "Journal of Marketing Education". Boulder: Apr 2004. Vol. 26, Iss. 1; pg. 4, 13 pgs. Chonko states “Many of the thoughts on which this article is based are adapted from materials found on this site.” (referring to Quackwatch)] Wallace Sampson, Kimball Atwood IV. Propagation of the Absurd: demarcation of the Absurd revisited. "Medical Journal of Australia". Pyrmont: Dec 5-Dec 19, 2005. Vol. 183, Iss. 11/12; pg. 580 - 1. Sampson states that “CAM source information tends to exclude well known critical and objective web pages such as those found on Quackwatch (www.quackwatch.org).”] Eleese Cunningham, Wendy Marcason. Internet hoaxes: How to spot them and how to debunk them. American Dietetic Association. "Journal of the American Dietetic Association". Chicago: Apr 2001. Vol. 101, Iss. 4; pg. 460 - 1. Cunningham and Marcason state that “Two Web sites that can be useful in determining hoaxes are www.quackwatch.com and www.urbanlegends.com.”] [ [http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/reprint/280/15/1380 JAMA Patient Page - Click here: How to find reliable online health information and resources] , Journal of the American Medical Association 280:1380, 1998.] including "The Lancet" peer-reviewed medical journalMarilynn Larkin. Medical quackery squashers on the web. "The Lancet". London: May 16, 1998. Vol. 351, Iss. 9114; pg. 1520 - 2. Names Quackwatch as the premier site for exposing purveyors of health frauds, myths, and fads.] and some libraries.cite news
first=
last=
title=Southwest Public Libraries
url=http://www.spl.lib.oh.us/wf/category2.cfm?cat_id1=17
work=
publisher=
date=
accessdate=2007-09-12
quote=] cite news
first=
last=
title=National Network of Libraries of Medicine
url=http://nnlm.gov/outreach/consumer/evalsite.html
work=Evaluating Health Web Sites, Consumer Health Manual
publisher=National Library of Medicine
date=
accessdate=2007-09-12
quote=] cite news
first=
last=
title=VCU Libraries
url=http://www.library.vcu.edu/tml/bibs/cam.html
work=Complementary and Alternative Medicine Resource Guide — Fraud and Quackery Resources
publisher=Virginia Commonwealth University
date=
accessdate=2007-09-12
quote=] cite news
first=
last=
title=Rutgers University Libraries
url=http://www.libraries.rutgers.edu/rul/rr_gateway/research_guides/pharm/findingit.shtml
work=Finding What You Want on the Web: A Guide
publisher=Rutgers University Libraries
date=
accessdate=2007-09-12
quote=] cite news
first=
last=
title=USC Libraries — Electronic Resources — Quackwatch
url=http://www.usc.edu/e_resources/isd/gateways/4982.php
work=
publisher=University of Southern California
date=
accessdate=2007-09-12
quote=] cite news
first=
last=
title=Medical Center Library
url=http://www.uky.edu/Libraries/libpage.php?lweb_id=262&llib_id=12&ltab_id=590
work=
publisher=University of Kentucky Libraries
date=
accessdate=2007-09-12
quote=]

Defamation lawsuits

Several libel suits have been filed by Barrett after he was criticized in a long series of email newsletters by Hulda Clark's employee, Patrick "Tim" Bolen, over his criticisms of Clark. Bolen claimed that Barrett had been "de-licensed," among other things. Barrett sued for libel [http://www.quackwatch.com/11Ind/bolensuit.html Barrett et al vs Clark et al. Verified complaint for damages for libel, libel per se, and conspiracy to commit libel. Superior Court of the State of California, County of Alameda. Filed Nov 3, 2000.] ] and Hulda Clark's publishing company "New Century Press" responded with a countersuit [http://www.ratbags.com/rsoles/ni/strange/ncplawsuit.pdf Crosscomplaint: New Century Press v. Barrett, et al] Case no. 833 021-5, Nov. 3, 2000] against Barrett (as well as numerous members of a mailing list at Yahoo! Groups, and even a strong supporter of Clark) for at least 12 types of crimes and about 20 other civil wrongs, with the most serious being racketeering. After Barrett filed a complaint for damages [http://pdfserver.amlaw.com/nlj/docket/120202barrett-complaint.pdf Complaint for damages (Malicious Prosecution and Abuse of Process)] Barrett v. Carlos F. Negrete, Hulda Clark, New Century Press] the countersuit was eventually withdrawn, [http://www.quackwatch.com/11Ind/negreteappeal.html Memorandum.] Stephen J. Barrett, M.D. v. Carlos F. Negrete et al. U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit No 04-55193, Filed March 14, 2005. "As to point number one, the district court correctly concluded that Negrete's voluntary dismissal of the underlying action constituted a termination favorable to Barrett."] but was heavily reported by Bolen and others of Barrett's detractors long afterwards without mentioning the withdrawal.Barrett, S. " [http://www.quackwatch.com/11Ind/negrete.html Bogus "Anti-Quackbuster" Suit Withdrawn: Why I am Suing the Lawyer Who Filed It] "]

Barrett has filed libel suits against several website operators and USENET posters who reposted Bolen's letters online. Barrett explained his lawsuits this way:

"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."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]

Barrett filed lawsuits in several jurisdictions, including Illinois,"Barrett v. Mercola", against Joseph Mercola, [http://web.archive.org/web/20030202085214/http://www.quackwatch.org/11Ind/mercolasuit.html case refiled on July 30, 2001 at Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, Case No. 01 L 009026.] ] See "Barrett v. Fonorow", filed July 2001 against Owen R. Fonorow, and Intelisoft Multimedia, Inc, 18th Cir., DuPage County, Illinois, No. 01 L 820. Barrett alleged that Fonorow reposted ten articles by Tim Bolen mischaracterizing him with several disparaging claims. cite news| title=Suits may redefine Internet libel law|author=Ted Gregory|publisher="Chicago Tribune"|date=2001-09-18|page=L1] California,"Barrett v. Clark", filed November 2000. Barrett and Polevoy sued Hulda Regehr Clark, Tim Bolen, Jan Bolen, David P. Amrein, Ilena Rosenthal, and unknown defendants for libel, libel per se, and conspiracy. cite web|url=http://www.quackwatch.org/11Ind/bolensuit.html|title=Barrett's case filing|accessdate=2007-02-12|publisher=Quackwatch] and Pennsylvania."Barrett v. Koren", filed against Tedd Koren, D.C. alleging that Koren made libelous remarks about him in his newsletter. Stephen Barrett, " [http://www.chirobase.org/08Legal/koren/suit.html My Libel Suit against Tedd Koren, D.C.] ," last revised on October 13, 2005.] Many of these were dismissed on summary judgment under anti-SLAPP statutes,E.g. the trial court rulings in "Barrett v. Clark", where on July 25, 2001 the court granted Rosenthal's motion to strike under California's anti-SLAPP provision, and ruled that the statements made by Rosenthal were opinion, and not statements of fact. Monica Dias, " [http://www.rcfp.org/news/mag/25-4/lib-medinter.html 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. Plaintiffs additionally failed to provide any evidence of damage, as required in a defamation lawsuit. " [http://www.casp.net/cases/barrett.html Order Granting Defendant's Special Motion to Strike, (Barrett v Clark)] ," California Anti-SLAPP Project. Perkins Coie, " [http://www.digestiblelaw.com/freespeech/blogQ.aspx?entry=1883 Barrett v. Clark] ," Internet Case Digest, July 25, 2001.] for failing to establish the evidentiary burden for libel,See "Barrett v. Koren", dismissed by a Pennsylvania judge who found that Barrett had provided insufficient evidence to prove his claim. Civil Action 2002-c-1837, Court of Common Pleas of Lehigh County. The dismissal was affirmed June 2007, SUPERIOR COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA, [http://www.superior.court.state.pa.us/jlists%5C0607%5C061107e.pdf June 11, 2007] . See also the trial court in "Barrett v. Clark", "supra". The Illinois court in "Barrett v. Mercola" reached the opposite conclusion, and the parties settled. [https://63.251.13.149/cookcounty/FindDock.asp?SearchType=0&Database=2&NCase=2001-L-009026&CDate=&PLtype=2&sname=mercola Case dismissed by mutual agreement on April 17, 2003. Judge: Casciato, Joseph N.] .] or because of an interpretation of Communications Decency Act ("CDA") that gives users immunity from lawsuits when reposting material online, such that courts need not determine whether Bolen's remarks constituted libel."Barrett v. Fonorow", dismissed in 2003. [http://www.state.il.us/COURT/Opinions/AppellateCourt/2003/2ndDistrict/October/Html/2020886.htm "Barrett v. Fonorow"] , No. 2--02--0886. cite news| title=Internet libel suit is tossed out; Decency Act protection cited by DuPage judge|author=Ted Gregory| publisher="Chicago Tribune"|date=2002-03-09|page=D13 Dismissal affirmed in "Barrett v. Fonorow", 799 N.E.2d 916, 343 Ill. App. 3d 1184 (Ill. App. 2003). 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" extend immunity to individuals reposting material online. 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=2004-01-27 See also the California Supreme Court's eventual ruling in "Barrett v. Rosenthal".] However, Barrett won a preliminary victory in one suit and the parties ultimately settled in April 2003cite news
first=
last=
title=Dismiss by Stipulation or Agreement
url=https://w3.courtlink.lexisnexis.com/cookcounty/FindDock.asp?SearchType=0&Database=2&NCase=2001-L-009026&CDate=&PLtype=2&sname=mercola
publisher=Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois
date=April 17, 2003
accessdate=2007-09-06] after the osteopath made restitution, including a retraction of the offensive material and a payment to Barrett.cite news
first=
last=
title=A Response to Tim Bolen
url=http://web.archive.org/web/20040216103602/www.quackwatch.org/11Ind/bolen.html
work=Quackwatch
publisher=Internet Archive
date=August 9, 2003
accessdate=2007-09-07Barrett states that a "suit was settled with a retraction and payment of $50,000."]

"Barrett v. Rosenthal", a lawsuit that Barrett initiated with another doctor in California, was appealed to that state's supreme court.On January 21, 2004, a California court of appeals vacated the trial court's order in "Barrett v. Clark" as it applied to Dr. Polevoy. "Barrett v. Rosenthal", 9 Cal.Rptr.3d 142 (Cal. App. 2004). The court found that Rosenthal's claims of Dr. Polevoy stalking a talk show host constituted libel per se, so did not require proof of damages and was not covered by California's anti-SLAPP statute, and refused to extend Rosenthal immunity from Section 230 of the CDA. See Michael L. Rustad, Thomas H. Koenig " [http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=961885 Rebooting Cybertort Law] ", 80 Wash. L. Rev. 335 (2005).] Though the California Supreme Court did not rule on whether or not the material in question was indeed libelous, they did adopt the predominant interpretation of Section 230 of the CDA, which grants immunity to defendants for reposting libelous material online.Howard Mintz, " [http://www.law.berkeley.edu/institutes/bclt/about/about_news_11-21-06.htm Justices hand victory to free speech online] ", San Jose Mercury News, November 21, 2006. The issue of defamation against Barrett was not before the court, as lower courts had ruled that Rosenthal had not defamed Barrett. Eric J. Sinrod, " [http://news.com.com/How+Web+providers+dodged+a+big+legal+bullet/2010-1030_3-6144464.html Perspective: How Web providers dodged a big legal bullet] ", CNET News.com, December 20, 2006.] At least one of Barrett's lawsuits is still pending in federal court."Barrett v. Negrete", a suit against Negrete and Clark which the Ninth Circuit remanded, reversing the district court's dismissal. 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).]

Selected publications

A partial list of articles Barrett was one of the authors or his authored work was cited 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 concluded that "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.

A partial list of 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|accessdate=2007-02-12|publisher=Quackwatch]

*"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 American Cancer Society

*"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). 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

* Alternative medicine
* Burden of Proof
* Consumer protection
* Debunker
* Defamation
* Evidence-based medicine
* National Council Against Health Fraud
* Pseudoscience
* Scientific skepticism

References

External links

* [http://www.quackwatch.org/ Quackwatch.org] - Stephen Barrett