1. Stephen Joel Barrett is an American retired psychiatrist, author, and consumer advocate best known for his work combatting health fraud and promoting evidence-based medicine.
12 Facts About Stephen Barrett
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Stephen Barrett founded Quackwatch, a network of websites that critiques unproven or questionable medical practices, and co-founded the National Council Against Health Fraud.
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Stephen Barrett's work has earned him both praise from scientific communities and criticism from proponents of alternative health practices.
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Stephen Barrett is a 1957 graduate of the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons and completed his psychiatry residency in 1961.
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Stephen Barrett is a scientific advisor to the American Council on Science and Health, and a fellow of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry.
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Stephen Barrett was the consulting editor for the Consumer Health Library at Prometheus Books, and has been a peer-review panelist for two medical journals.
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Stephen Barrett has served on the editorial board of Medscape and the Scientific Review of Alternative Medicine.
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Stephen Barrett was included in the list of outstanding skeptics of the 20th century by Skeptical Inquirer magazine.
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Stephen Barrett has been profiled in Biography Magazine and in Time.
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In 1996, Stephen Barrett launched Quackwatch, a website aimed at investigating health-related frauds, myths, fads, fallacies, and misconceptions.
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Stephen Barrett defines quackery as "anything involving overpromotion in the field of health," reserving the term "fraud" for instances involving deliberate deception.
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Stephen Barrett has been a vocal critic of alternative medicine practices, including chiropractic, homeopathy, and acupuncture.