Top “Quackbuster” Bobbie Baratz Under Scrutiny in Wisconsin…

The sleeping giant of Health Freedom is awakening in Wisconsin.  Here’s why…

Last year apparently, the State of Wisconsin Department of Regulation and Licensing (DORL), hired Robert S. Baratz MD, DDS, PhD, the current President of the National Council Against Health Fraud (NCAHF) (www.ncahf.org) to be the “Do All, Be All, Health Expert” for the State.  Bobbie is evaluating cases for Wisconsin – and is apparently recommending who to prosecute, and what for.

Opinion by Consumer Advocate Tim Bolen

It is not known how much money Baratz has been paid, so far, by Wisconsin, but Baratz recently was able, he claims (by his own testimony in deposition), to have purchased an entire health center in Braintree, Massachusetts in which he only has to work four hours a week.

All that, is unacceptable to Wisconsinites…  The first of several questions that arises, of course, “Is Baratz qualified to determine the health fate of millions of Wisconsinites?”  Well, let’s examine that question.

According to the record, since his termination of employment with Harbor Health Services in 1999 after a physical altercation with a 72 year-old woman, Baratz has been making his living REMOVING HAIR in a hair removal salon, and performing NIGHT AND WEEKEND DENTISTRY, OUT OF HIS HOME,”  where, he admits, he has neither a dental chair, nor any dental assistants.

And, of course, the occasional “expert witness” testifying job – like in Wisconsin.

Indeed, the self-vaunted NCAHF, of which Baratz claims to be the current President, is operating out of the back room of his hair removal salon.

WISCONSIN’S REACTION?

In response to Baratz’s efforts, the flyer distributed around Wisconsin by the NEWLY FORMING Wisconsin Association for Health Freedom (WAHF), says“Right now…there is an ongoing attempt on the part of the Department of Regulation and Licensing in Wisconsin to suppress our choices of healthcare by persecuting practitioners of various healing techniques.” 

In North America, Health Freedom Fighters outnumber quackbusters 100,000 to 1.  Now, Wisconsin is increasing that ratio.  The Wisconsin team is outraged, and they have a plan,,,

BOBBIE BARATZ IS IN BIG TROUBLE…

An Attorney working on a case in Wisconsin, where Baratz was the case advisor and expert witness, took my advice and CAREFULLY looked at the resume qualifications, and credentials, of one Robert S. Baratz MD, DDS, PhD.  A Private Investigator from the State capitol in Madison was brought in.  Then Baratz was deposed TWICE – primarily about his resume claims.

Baratz’s Resume, submitted to the State of Wisconsin for hiring purposes, is a FANTASTIC not-funny joke.  Baratz has, literally, “made up a life” on his resume.  He’s made himself out to be a Professor of Medicine at a Medical School – he’s not.  He claims he’s on the staff at three major hospitals – he’s not.  He claims to be a Consultant to NBC, CBS, and ABC – he’s not.  He claims to be a Consultant to the FDA office of Criminal Investigation – he’s not.  And on, and on, and on.  Each line a little more fantastic then the next.

Then too, a legitimate MD, with a real resume, reading one of Baratz’s so-called “case analyses,” found eleven incidents in Baratz’s statements that were directly, and easily, controvertible in BASIC Medical School textbooks.  This gives rise to the question; “Is Baratz really this unknowledgeable, or is he making this stuff up?”

Recently, legal papers (public documents) were filed in the State of Wisconsin dealing with the results of the investigation.  Strong language was used.  I suspect that Baratz’s problems have taken a new turn.

All of the statements in “quotes,” in the remainder of the article below, are from those legal documents…

Early in the documents, it boldly states – “Baratz lacks the requisite qualifications to testify as an expert witness.”  Then, “Baratz is not the expert the State purports him to be.”  “A witness must be qualified to answer the question put to him…No expert has Carte Blanche.”  “Baratz is not a qualified expert under Wisconsin law.”

MORE INTERESTING IS…

“Baratz lacks experience as a medical doctor.”  “By his own testimony, Baratz has seen patients in a private office setting for only a few months out of his entire career as a licensed Physician, which spans little more than the (10) years.”

Then again, “Baratz’s obvious anti-alternative animus should disqualify him as an expert.”  “Baratz has made several material misrepresentations about his practice and work experience.”

IT GETS BETTER…

Then, we see – “Based on his own testimony, Baratz’s claim that he has been published more than 150 times is clearly overstated.”   When Baratz was confronted with this, in deposition (knowing we’d hired a Private Investigator), “He testified  (in deposition) that he HAS NEVER published a clinical or medical study involving research, science or data collection in any general literature.”

“Apparently Baratz counts internal corporate documents he has written as ‘publications.’  He even includes in his list of ‘publications’ those times when he was interviewed off-camera, or quoted in an article.”  “Quite obviously, Baratz has misstated his past history as an author in an effort to bolster his credibility as an expert.  He should not be permitted to manufacture credibility by falsely stating his publication track record.”

IT GETS EVEN BETTER…

Get this – Baratz states in deposition – “I’ve worked for the FDA in several capacities.  I was invited as a consultant to the FDA to products review panels of the FDA — and that was the dental products panel – on two occasions in ’91 and ’94.”

However, Sharon L. Blount, a Consumer Safety Officer for the FDA states: “After contacting our committee Management Office,  I have been informed that we had no consultant by the name of Doctor Robert S. Baratz on our Dental Products Panel.”

AND, BETTER YET…

“Baratz does not qualify as an expert witness under the standards promulgated by the American Medical Association.”  “In AMA Policy H-265.994(3)(a), it provides in part:  The AMA believes that the minimum statutory requirements for qualification as an expert witness should reflect the following: (i) that the witness be required to have comparable education, training and occupational experience in the same field as the defendant;  (ii) that the occupational experience include active medical practice or teaching experience in the same field as the defendant; and (iii) that the active medical practice or teaching experience must have been within five (5) years of the date of the occurrence giving rise to the claim.”

BOBBIE’S ALREADY IN TROUBLE – ELSEWHERE…

Bobbie Baratz has tried his tricks in other places -and got himself battered with reality.  It looks to me that it’s just a matter of time…

Click on the articles below for further information…

Quackbuster Baratz and Barrett Both Hiding Under the Bed… , Florida Dental Board Backs Down… , Flogged in Florida…
Quackpots Lose AGAIN, in Florida…Quackpot Menace Blown Away in Florida…,
Cowardly “Quackbusters” DISMISS Case to Avoid Being DEPOSED?…
The Tables Have Turned” On the Quackbusters…

THE QUESTIONS HERE ARE…

What kind of nitwit, in Wisconsin, hired this guy?  Didn’t anybody at the State of Wisconsin Department of Regulation and Licensing read Baratz’s resume’ – and check on it?  All somebody had to do was pick up the telephone a few times – and ask a few questions.  Don’t they have any Investigators working at the DORL?

WHAT THE WISCONSIN ASSOCIATION FOR HEALTH FREEDOM IS GOING TO DO…

The committee has been forming, and organizing, for months.  I’ve been all over the State, as have others, lecturing on the dangers of letting any of the quackbuster ilk have an influence on health care policies in Wisconsin.

THE FOUNDERS OF THE WAHF RECOMMEND FIVE OBJECTIVES…

(1)  Find out who, at the Department of Regulation and Licensing, is responsible for the hiring of Baratz – and see them adequately disciplined, making sure that written regulations and policies are set in place about the hiring standards for future consultants. So that this won’t happen again.

(2)  Demanding, both personally, and through their legislators, that the Department of Regulation and Licensing FORMALLY INVESTIGATE THE CLAIMS (in resume’ and conversations) made by Baratz, that caused him to be hired as a expert consultant – determining whether the State of Wisconsin was criminally defrauded by Baratz’s claims, and his consequent hiring as that expert consultant.

(3)  Asking, both personally, and through their legislators, that the ATTORNEY GENERAL of the State of Wisconsin FORMALLY INVESTIGATE THE CLAIMS (in resume’ and conversations) made by Baratz, that caused him to be hired as a expert consultant – determining whether the State of Wisconsin was criminally defrauded by Baratz’s claims, and his consequent hiring as that expert consultant.

(4)  Demanding that, If it is so found that Baratz criminally defrauded the State of Wisconsin by either or both of the above, that the act of  PROSECUTION take place – to the full extent of the law.

(5)  Get legislation passed in Wisconsin, that (a) allows the citizens of Wisconsin the right to choose their form of healthcare and (b) freedom for practitioners to offer those choices.

THE LAST WORD…

I think that Baratz, being from the big city of Boston, and all, probably figured he was dealing with rubes, hicks, and hayseeds, when he dropped his poisonous anchor in Wisconsin.  After all, the person that hired him clearly wasn’t all that bright.

Rubes, hicks, and hayseeds?  Boy, was he wrong.  That’s hardly the case.  I drove all over that State of Wisconsin, and I have to tell you that not only are these people SHARP, but they exhibit, and practice, a version of human relationship UNEXCELLED anywhere I’ve been.  They exude warmth and caring.  And, they are genuinely nice.

As a California boy, hardened and aged in the fast lane, it was a luxury dealing with these people.  I look forward to the continuance…

Baratz, and whoever hired him, are in for a hard ride…  Already, in a formal courtroom hearing just this last month in Wisconsin, where Baratz was severely questioned about his qualifications and resume, Baratz broke down and CRIED, and SCREAMED, for almost fifteen minutes.  There is a video tape…

Stay tuned… There’s MUCH more coming.

Tim Bolen
Consumer Advocate