Saturday, June 16, 2007

What we've complained about for years

I guess you might have to say that this is a window into a concenr I've addressed for years. Yes, many of us have known for a long time that Barrett is truly the 'Quack' of quack watch, and now the courts have pointed this out again.
To the many people in mainstream medicine and the media that cling to Barrett as 'the authority'maybe now you will start to pay attention to those of us who are truly qualified experts in natural health care.
In addition, perhaps the media and others (those superficial researchers dabbling in the false category called CAM) will look to those like me when they are interested in facts and the science behind natural health care.
This might now extend to the US presidential hopefuls claiming to have a health care plan proposal - none addressing right of choice and access to supplements and other healing techniques that would help prevention and reduce costs.

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SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, Calif., June 14
PRNewswire-USNewswire — In a strongly worded opinion,
the Appeals Court for the State of Pennsylvania ruled
against Stephen Barrett, a long-time critic of
chiropractic and alternative health care. In an action
that chiropractors see as a major setback for their
nemesis, the judge refused to overturn a 2005 decision
against Barrett.

The earlier lawsuit was won by chiropractor Tedd
Koren, DC, whose company markets chiropractic
educational pamphlets that Barrett had harshly
criticized.

In his newsletter, Dr. Koren referred to the
self-proclaimed "Quackbuster" as a "Quackpot" and
commented that Barrett was "de-licensed," and "in
trouble." Barrett sued Koren for defamation and lost
the case.

Barrett, who represents himself as an expert on health
care quackery, has appeared as a medical expert in
numerous court cases and claims the FDA, FTC and other
governmental agencies have consulted him on health
care issues. He is noted for his outspoken opposition
to and criticism of non-medical health care
approaches, most of which he labels "quackery." His
targets have included chiropractic, homeopathy,
naturopathy, and even two-time Nobel Prize winner
Linus Pauling.

Heading the legal team for the original Koren case and
appeal was Carlos Negrete, who serves as legal counsel
for the World Chiropractic Alliance (WCA).

"This is a great victory for the chiropractic
profession," Koren stated after the Pennsylvania
Appellate Court decision was announced. "Once again,
chiropractors across the country have been vindicated
and exposed the specious and evil attacks by someone
who has no knowledge or expertise in our field."

Negrete specializes in representing alternative health
care providers who are targeted by advocates of the
medical and pharmaceutical industries. His previous
court victories have positioned him as the premier
"health freedom" attorney in the US.

During heated and often dramatic courtroom
proceedings, Negrete pointed out many of the
questionable statements Barrett includes on his
websites attacking chiropractic, as well as facts
about Barrett's own credentials that shocked even his
supporters. Under Negrete's intense cross-examination,
Barrett admitted that he had not been a licensed
physician for more than a decade and had failed the
neurological exam, preventing him from being certified
as a specialist. Negrete demonstrated that, despite
his claims, Barrett had no real expertise in any
medical field.

Barrett also admitted, under questioning, that he
misrepresented himself as a licensed physician in a
previous court case.

"These revelations cast serious doubts about Barrett's
credibility and integrity and were major factors in
the judge's decision," Negrete stated.

Calling the case a "landmark decision" for
chiropractors and alternative care providers, Negrete
noted that "Barrett has made a career out of attacking
core chiropractic values, specifically subluxation,
with no scientific basis for his contentions. This
case clearly shows that his opinions about
chiropractic or other health care options are
irrelevant."

WCA President Terry A. Rondberg, DC, agreed with
Negrete. "This is a turning point not only for
Barrett, but for all unscientific and uninformed
opponents who seek to impose the medical monopoly on
the public. People around the world deserve freedom of
choice in health care and need valid, unbiased and
truthful information on all options available to them.
Thanks in great part to the WCA legal counsel, Carlos
Negrete, they now have a better chance of getting
both."

The World Chiropractic Alliance — an international
organization representing doctors of chiropractic —
promotes traditional, drug-free and non-invasive
chiropractic to correct vertebral subluxations. The
WCA is an NGO (Non-Governmental Organization)
associated with the United Nations Department of
Public Information and publishes the peer-reviewed
chiropractic research journal, Journal of Vertebral
Subluxation Research. For more information, contact
the WCA at 800-347-1011 or
http://www.worldchiropracticalliance.org.

SOURCE World Chiropractic Alliance

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