Opinion by Consumer Advocate  Tim Bolen 

Friday, January 26th, 2007

Top "quackbuster"  Robert S. Baratz MD, DDS PhD was forcibly removed as a witness in a California case recently after it was pointed out to the State of California that Baratz was a not quite what he claims to be.  Cases all over the United States, originally initiated by "quackbusters" , are being dropped by State agencies - like hot potatoes. 

Why?  Probably because "the word is out" about the "quackbusters"  - and no State agency, and certainly no individual medical or dental board member wants the personal liability attached to using fake witnesses.  It was probably the Massachusetts v. Satloff case, and its outcome, where the Massachusetts Dental board called special meetings to drop all charges against Satloff that started the decline.  In that case Satloff sued the Dental Board, the State prosecutor, the Administrative Law Judge, and others for violating his right to due process for using Baratz as a witness..  When confronted with the reality the Massachusetts State Dental Board called two separate special meetings canceling the case and promising never to come after Satloff again.

In Washington State, as you read this, health activists are storming the Governor's office, the State Auditor's office, and the State legislature, demanding explanations, and details about, the State's relationship with the "quackbusters."   Legislators are responding with new legislation to protect cutting-edge practitioners.