Vereniging tegen de Kwakzalverij

[[File:VtdK logo.png|thumb|right|165px|The VtdK logo]]
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'''Vereniging tegen de Kwakzalverij''' (VtdK; English: "Association against Quackery") is the oldest [[skeptical]] organization in the world, having been founded in 1880<ref name=renckens>[https://www.kwakzalverij.nl/over-ons/a-brief-history-of-the-vereniging-tegen-de-kwakzalverij/ In the Interest of All Who Value Their Purse and Their Health: A Brief History of the 'Vereniging tegen de Kwakzalverij'] by Cees N. M. Renckens (Geplaatst: 15 jul 2010 | Laatste Wijziging: 21 apr 2016) ''Vereniging tegen de Kwakzalverij''.</ref> in the [[Netherlands]], and it is still active.

The initial interest of the society was in practicing medicine without a license and in the manufacture of "secret remedies" ([[patent medicine]]).<ref name=renckens/> Since 1881, the society has published the journal ''Nederlands Tijdschrift tegen de Kwakzalverij'' (NTtdK). In the first year of the NTtdK, it expressed skepticism about the efficacy (but not the safety) of the deadly herbal medicine ''[[Aristolochia]]''.<ref>[http://www.kwakzalverij.nl/813/Maandblad_15_juli_1881_jaargang_1_nummer_7 Reconfortatief of gezondheids en zeer versterkende pillen (Maandblad 15 juli 1881, jaargang 1, nummer 7)] (9 jan 2009) ''Kwakzalverij''</ref><ref>[https://www.kwakzalverij.nl/tijdschrift/tijdschrift-archief-19e-eeuw/maandblad-15-juli-1881-jaargang-1-nummer-7/ Reconfortatief of gezondheids en zeer versterkende pillen] (15 juli 1881) ''Nederlands Tijdschrift tegen de Kwakzalverij'' 1(7).</ref>

By the 1950s, the society's interest focusted on [[magnetic therapy]], [[parapsychology]], non-medical manipulative therapy, and [[herbal medicine]].<ref name=renckens/> Since the 1980s, the society has fought against [[alternative medicine]], including [[acupuncture]], [[homeopathy]], manipulative therapy, [[anthroposophical medicine]], and [[naturopathy]].<ref name=renckens/>

==Twenty most notorious healers==
In 2001, the VtdK published a report of the twenty most notorious Dutch healers ([[quack]]s)  of the 20<sup>th</sup> century". The list featured:<ref>[https://skepsis.nl/mainsite/inhoud/uploads/2015/09/sn14.pdf Genezen is het woord: Biografische  schetsen van de twintig meest notoire genezers van de twintigste eeuw] by Cees Renckens (2001) ''Vereniging tegen de Kwakzalverij'' Skeptische Notities 14. ISBN 9073517141.</ref>
{{collist|2|
#Cornelis Moerman {{lived|1893|1988}}: {{wpl|Moerman Therapy||,}} [[cancer]] quackery
#Jules Samuels {{lived|1888|1975}}: endogenous endocrine therapy using [[electromagnetism]]
#Johan Borgman {{lived|1889|1976}}: [[paranormal]] [[healing]]
#H. van der Upwich {{lived|1898|1997}}: [[raw food]], [[fad diet]], all illness is due to indigestion
#Het Staphorster Boertje {{lived|1840|1922}}: herbal medicine
#J.G. Defares {{lived|1927|2015}}:<ref>[https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_George_Defares James George Defares] Netherlands Wikipedia</ref> cell therapy, [[hormone replacement therapy]], [[orthomolecular medicine]], enzyme therapy, Filatow tissue therapy, Bogolometz-Korenchevsky serum therapy, Aslan procaine therapy
#Mevr. M. Sickesz [Maria (Mayita) Sickesz] {{lived|1923|2015}}:<ref>[https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maria_Sickesz Maria Sickesz] Netherlands Wikipedia</ref> orthomanual medicine (a variation of [[osteopathy]] that is supposed to be a [[panacea]])
#P.J. van der Schaar: [[ozone therapy]], cell therapy, [[chelation therapy]]
#Ad J. Lodewijkx: orthomolecular medicine, fad diet
#Femia Haverhoek: homeopathy, [[clairvoyance]]
#{{wpl|Gerard Croiset}} {{lived|1909|1980}}: paranomral healer
#A.J. Houtsmuller {{lived|1924|2015}}:<ref>[https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hans_Houtsmuller Hans Houtsmuller] Netherlands Wikipedia</ref> Moerman therapy, fad diet, [[megavitamin therapy]]
#H.J. Eilers: patent medicine containing petroleum, cod liver oil and cinnamon oil for treating tuberculosis, multiple convictions for practicing medicine without a license
#H.P.J.A. Maas: homeopathy, acupuncture, paranormal, anthroposophical medicine
#{{wpl|Greet Hofmans}} {{lived|1894|1968}}: [[faith healing]]
#{{wpl|Jomanda}} (a.k.a. Johanna Wilhelmina Petronella Damman) {{lived|1948}}: [[spiritualist]] healer
#F.J.M. Neelissen {{lived|1938}}: homeopathy, acupuncture, [[Dental woo#Focal diagnostics|focus diagnostics]] [[dental woo]]
#J.G. Mieremet {{lived|1885|1967}}: magnetic therapy, [[dowsing]]
#Rama Polderman {{lived|1924|2004}}:<ref>[https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rama_Polderman Rama Polderman] Netherlands Wikipedia</ref> homeopathy, [[chakra]]s, [[color therapy]]
#Jelle Veeman {{lived|1922}}: paranormal healer, magnetic therapy, [[third eye]]
}}

===Maria Sickesz===
A substantial amount of Dutch press coverage was given to the 2001 report, and needless to say the living quacks in the report were not happy about it. The report itself was very specific about the definition of quack as ''not'' implying fraud, but news reports generally referred to a more general definition that did include fraud, an important legal distinction.<ref name=nienhuys>[https://www.kwakzalverij.nl/nieuws/chronologie-van-de-kwestie-sickesz/ Chronologie van de kwestie-Sickesz] by Jan Willem Nienhuys (Posted 28 mei 2001 [with updates]) ''Vereniging tegen de Kwakzalverij''.</ref> Maria Sickesz (#7, above) sued the VtdK in 2005 for making an ''onrechtmatige daad'' (unlawful act){{efn|''Onrechtmatige daad'' is not libel ''per se''.<ref name=renckens/>}} against her.<ref name=nienhuys/> Sickesz lost the case initially, but won on appeal in 2007.<ref name=nienhuys/> The case was finally settled by the Court of Cassation in favor of VtdK in 2009 based on {{wpl|Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights,}} which is regarding to freedom of expression and information.<ref>[http://www.quackometer.net/blog/2009/08/dutch-sceptics-have-bogus-libel.html Dutch Sceptics Have ‘Bogus’ Libel Decision Overturned On Human Rights Grounds.] by Andy Lewis (August 3, 2009) ''The Quackometer''.</ref><ref name=renckens/> The court battle brought financial difficulty to VtdK, bringing it close to bankruptcy.<ref name=renckens/>

===Sylvia Millecam===
Dutch actress Sylvia Millecam was diagnosed with breast [[cancer]] in 2000 and initially sought conventional medicine after the initial diagnosis. After several visits to the doctor she chose alternative medical treatments exclusively, including from Jomanda (#16, above) and many alternative medicine practitioners, three of whom had medical licenses.<ref name=nrchb>[https://web.archive.org/web/20140719184830/http://vorige.nrc.nl/article1808937.ece Artsen Millecam uit hun vak gezet] (19-06-2007) ''NRC Handelsblad'' (archived from July 19, 2014).</ref><ref name=bmj>[https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Annette_Tuffs/publication/5365308_Only_6_of_drug_advertising_material_is_supported_by_evidence/links/5450fc7f0cf249aa53dc8cc8/Only-6-of-drug-advertising-material-is-supported-by-evidence.pdf Netherlands to crack down on complementary medicine] by Tony Sheldon (28 February 2004) ''BMJ'' 328:485.</ref> Her treatment included electro-acupuncture, "cell specific cancer treatment" ({{wpl|Zoetron therapy}}) and "[[salt therapy]]".<ref name=bmj/> During treatment, she was repeatedly told that she did not have cancer, but eventually her condition became much worse and she entered a hospital after her tumor had grown past the point of being treatable, dying there in 2001. After her death, a public prosecutor pressed charges against two of the professionals and Jomanda, but later dropped charges because Millecam had made her own decision regarding treatment.<ref name=binnenland>[https://web.archive.org/web/20080411214940/https://www.ad.nl/binnenland/2211938/OM_moet_Jomanda_toch_vervolgen.html OM moet Jomanda toch vervolgen] (10 april 2008) ''Binnenland'' (archived from April 11, 2008).</ref> Following this, VtdK and {{wpl|Stichting Skepsis}} (another Dutch skeptical organization) forced the prosecutor to continue the case.<ref name=binnenland/> The result of the prosecution was that two of the three medical professionals temporarily lost their licenses to practice as a result of her death, and the acquittal of Jomanda.<ref name=nrchb/><ref>[https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/spiritual-healer-acquitted-in-death-of-dutch-actress-1.861648 Spiritual healer acquitted in death of Dutch actress] (Jun 12, 2009 11:51 AM ET) ''The Associated Press'' via ''CBC''.</ref>

==Meester Kackadorisprijs==
Since 2004, the society has awarded an annual "'Meester Kackadorisprijs' to institutions, individuals or companies that have contributed significantly to the spread of quackery in the Netherlands."<ref name=renckens/><ref>[https://www.kwakzalverij.nl/over-ons/meester-kackadorisprijs/ Meester Kackadorisprijs] ''Vereniging tegen de Kwakzalverij''.</ref><ref>[https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meester_Kackadorisprijs Meester Kackadorisprijs] Netherlands Wikipedia</ref> The prize is named after a quack doctor in a 1631 short comedy.<ref name=renckens/><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=eZhlAAAAcAAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false Een tafel-spel van Meester Kackadoris, ende een doof wijf met eyeren: noch een tafel-spel van een lants-knecht, die teghen sijn eyghen schaduwe vecht. Noch een tafel-spel van een personagie, een sot spelende met een marot. Noch twee refereynen int amoureus.] by Jan van Waesberge (1631)</ref>

==See also==
*[[Quackwatch]]
*[[Simon Singh]], a skeptic who was sued by the British Chiropractic Association

==External link==
*[https://www.kwakzalverij.nl Vereniging tegen de Kwakzalverij]

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note}}

==References==
{{reflist|2|80%}}

[[Category:Alternative medicine]]
[[Category:Medicine]]
[[Category:Netherlands]]
[[Category:Skepticism]]
[[Category:Skeptical organizations]]

Categories: Alternative medicine, Medicine, Netherlands, Skepticism, Skeptical organizations