Quackwatch Mission Statement

Quackwatch is an international network of people who are concerned about health-related frauds, myths, fads, fallacies, and misconduct. Its primary focus is on quackery-related information that is difficult or impossible to get elsewhere. Founded by Dr. Stephen Barrett in 1969 as the Lehigh Valley Committee Against Health Fraud (Allentown, Pennsylvania), it was incorporated in 1970. In 1997, it assumed its current name and began developing a worldwide network of volunteers and expert advisors. Our activities include:

In 2008, after Dr. Barrett moved to North Carolina, the corporation was dissolved, but the network's activities will continue as usual.

Web Sites

The Quackwatch Web site was launched in December 1996. Our other sites are:

  • Acupuncture Watch (started 2/05): The skeptical guide to acupuncture history, theories, and practices
  • Allergy Watch (8/07): Your guide to questionable theories and practices.
  • Autism Watch (7/04): Your scientific guide to autism
  • Cancer Treatment Watch (8/05): Your guide to sensible cancer treatment
  • Casewatch (7/04): Your guide to health fraud- and quackery-related legal matters
  • Chelation Watch (7/04): A skeptical view of chelation therapy
  • Chirobase (10/98): Your skeptical guide to chiropractic history, theories, and practices
  • Credential Watch (2/05): Your guide to health-related education and training
  • Dental Watch (6/02): Your guide to intelligent dental care
  • Device Watch (7/04): Your guide to questionable medical devices
  • Diet Scam Watch (11/04): Your guide to weight-control schemes and ripoffs
  • Fibromyalgia Watch (1/11): Guide to the fibromyalgia marketplace
  • Homeowatch (11/01): Your skeptical guide to homeopathic history, theories, and practices
  • Infomercial Watch (7/04): A critical view of the health infomercial marketplace
  • Internet Health Pilot (1/02): Your gateway to reliable health information
  • Insurance Reform Watch (4/09): Your guide to an equitable health care system
  • Mental Health Watch (7/04): Your guide to the mental help marketplace
  • MLM Watch (1/99): The skeptical guide to multilevel marketing
  • Naturowatch (6/03): The skeptical guide to naturopathic history, theories, and practices
  • NCCAM Watch (11/05): An antidote to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine
  • Nutriwatch (3/00): Your guide to sensible nutrition
  • Pharmwatch (8/05): Your guide to the drug marketplace and lower costs

Dr. Barrett maintains these sites with help from many volunteers.

Service Providers

  • Members of our advisory boards review articles upon request.
  • Our chief counsel is Michael K. Botts; 1629 K. St., N.W., Suite 300; Washington, DC 20006 (202-204-2236)
  • Our web-page design was developed by Marty Mapes of Boulder Information Services.
  • Dr. Barrett's son Daniel Barrett, a software engineer, provides general technical support.
  • Our Internet Service Provider is 10types, which provides outstanding equipment, service, and technical support.
  • Programming of the WebGlimpse search engine is maintained by Adam Baratz.
  • Robert King edits our audio and video segments.
  • Gina Smith of CabbageTree Solutions transcribes audio and video recordings.
  • Our sites are registered with DomainSite, which provides reasonable rates, a very efficient account-management interface, and outstanding customer service.
  • OnlyMyEmail provides SPAM protection.

Sources of Income

The total cost of operating all of our sites and research activities runs between $7,000 and $10,000 per year. Quackwatch has never had any salaried employees. It operates with minimal expense, funded mainly by small individual donations, commissions from sales on other sites to which we refer, and profits from the sale of publications. If its income falls below what is needed for the research, the rest comes out of Dr. Barrett's pocket. Except for the sales commissions, neither Quackwatch nor Dr. Barrett have any financial tie to any commercial or industrial organization.

There are two ways to donate:

  • PayPal enables donations of any amount. If you do not have a PayPal account, a credit card can be used instead.
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 or

Payment by check or money order can be sent directly to:

Quackwatch
Chatham Crossing, Suite 107/208
11312 U.S. 15-501 North
Chapel Hill, NC 27517.

Either way, these donations will support research, writing, and legal actions that can protect many people from being misled.

This page was revised on January 13, 2012.

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