title: [Definition of 'quack' in the public debate on alternative medicine].
abstract: In May 1999 the Amsterdam Court of Justice decided that a retired internist and propagandist of his own alternative cancer therapy, could rightfully be called a quack by his critics. Recently this judgment was reversed on appeal. The first court used the medical definition of quackery: a treatment of which the supposed benefits are unsubstantiated. The court of appeal, however, took into consideration that to the general public calling someone a quack is an indication that this person is a swindler and practises medicine unlawfully. This definition is supported by the most authoritative Dutch dictionary. Apparently a different semantic interpretation of the term quack has led to these strongly diverging verdicts. The terms quack and quackery are indispensable in the public debate on alternative medicine.
authors.affiliation: renckens@xs4all.nl
authors.forename: C N
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Renckens
authors.forename: F S
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: van Dam
authors.forename: C P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: van der Smagt
mesh_terms: D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006801:Humans; D007883:Legislation, Medical; D009426:Netherlands; D011781:Quackery / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*
vernacular_title: De definitie van 'kwakzalver' in het publieke debat over alternatieve behandelwijzen.