Quackwatch

Quackwatch
Available inEnglish, French, Portuguese
EditorStephen Barrett
URLEnglish: Quackwatch.org
French: www.sceptiques.qc.ca/quackwatch/
CommercialNo
RegistrationNo
Launched1996
Current statusActive
OCLC number855159830

Quackwatch is a United States–based website, self-described as a "network of people"[1] founded by Stephen Barrett, which aims to "combat health-related frauds, myths, fads, fallacies, and misconduct" and to focus on "quackery-related information that is difficult or impossible to get elsewhere".[2][3] Since 1996 it has operated the alternative medicine watchdog website quackwatch.org, which advises the public on unproven or ineffective alternative medical remedies.[4] The site contains articles and other information criticizing many forms of alternative medicine.[5][6][7]

Quackwatch cites peer-reviewed journal articles and has received several awards.[8] The site has been developed with the assistance of a worldwide network of volunteers and expert advisors. It has received positive recognition and recommendations from mainstream organizations and sources, although at times it has also received criticism for perceived bias in its coverage. It has been recognized in the media, which cite quackwatch.org as a practical source for online consumer information.[9] The success of Quackwatch has generated the creation of additional affiliated websites;[10] as of 2019 there were 21 of them.[11]

Quackwatch files at Center for Inquiry
  1. ^ Barrett, SJ (April 18, 2016). "Who Funds Quackwatch?". Quackwatch. Retrieved January 13, 2017.
  2. ^ Barret, SJ (December 21, 2016). "Stephen Barrett, M.D., Biographical Sketch". Quackwatch. Retrieved January 13, 2017.
  3. ^ Barret, SJ (May 2, 2007). "Quackwatch Mission Statement". Quackwatch. Retrieved January 13, 2017.
  4. ^ Baldwin, FD (July 19, 2004). "If It Quacks Like a Duck. ..." MedHunters. Archived from the original on February 6, 2008. Retrieved February 1, 2008.
  5. ^ Barret, SJ. "Quackwatch.org main page". Quackwatch. Retrieved February 12, 2007.
  6. ^ Arabella Dymoke (2004). The Good Web Guide. The Good Web Guide Ltd. p. 35. ISBN 978-1-903282-46-5. Retrieved September 4, 2013. 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.
  7. ^ Politzer, M (September 14, 2007). "Eastern Medicine Goes West". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved September 14, 2007.
  8. ^ "Awards Received by Quackwatch". Quackwatch. November 7, 2005.
  9. ^ Jaroff, L (April 22, 2001). "The Man Who Loves To Bust Quacks". Time. Archived from the original on April 6, 2005. Retrieved August 16, 2007.
  10. ^ 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.
  11. ^ "Recent Additions to Quackwatch". Retrieved April 4, 2019.