Hell Burns a
Little Brighter This Week...
Opinion by Consumer Advocate Tim Bolen
November 22, 2002
Self-styled quackbuster, and anti-health manipulator, Victor Herbert died of
Cancer November 19th, 2002. Herbert, described by many in the Health
Freedom Movement as "a raving maniac" hasn't been seen much in the
last few years. Herbert had obtained notoriety among the quackbuster rank
and file for his literal SCREAMING attacks, in public, against anything, and
anybody, engaged in Alternative Medicine.
Like most quackbusters, when confronted with demands to back up their
anti-health claims with "science," Herbert would get even more shrill.
Quackbusters, as a whole, don't generally understand scientific principles, and
don't seem to understand the scientific method. Generally speaking, I've
found that most quackbusters aren't all that bright. Their leadership
seems to have "personal failure in their own profession" as their
hallmark.
Herbert had gained notoriety in the famous New York OPMC vs. Warren Levin MD
case. Herbert literally SCREAMED throughout the case, and couldn't be shut
up even by the Judge. Warren Levin, in the case, showed that Herbert had
scientifically experimented on himself with a folic acid study - which very
likely had damaged his brain. Levin won.
In another instance, in 1993, Herbert got physical with pro-health activist
Frank Weiwel (People Against Cancer) and was convicted of assault in that
incident. Weiwel had been recording Herbert SCREAMING. The conviction was
later overturned. Herbert, who also was an attorney, then sued Weiwel in
Federal court, and lost the case. The Federal Judge chastised Herbert for
his courtroom behavior. When Weiwel was awarded Attorney fees, Herbert
claimed he only had $6,000 to his name. The Judge awarded Frank Weiwel
half of that. Weiwel has an enlarged copy of the check for $3,000 on his
wall.
I saw a taped interview of Herbert by Ted Koppell where Herbert couldn't stop
SCREAMING on the air. He was supposedly "debating" someone from
the supplement industry. Koppell told him to control himself several
times. He didn't.
A New York magazine once interviewed Herbert, following Herbert down to his car.
Herbert had bumper stickers on his car with the words "Green Beret."
Strapped to the back of the driver's seat was a Machete, in a sheath. When
asked why the Machete was there Herbert replied something like "last week
some bum tried to wash my windshield for me, and I won't tolerate that."
I always thought Herbert was the PERFECT spokesman for the quackbusters. I
thought he TRULY, and HONESTLY, represented the quackpot mentality. He was
the epitome. Stephen Barrett claimed Herbert as a resource for his dubious
website www.quackwatch.com. Herbert was, of course, on the board of the
National Council Against Health Fraud (NCAHF).
I certainly hope that Herbert stayed in character during his bout with cancer,
and availed himself of ONLY conventional cancer therapies. I can't think
of anybody who deserved chemotherapy, or radiation, more.
No official studies have ever been done to determine how much damage has been
inflicted on American society by the Quackbusters. Yet...
Tim Bolen
Consumer Advocate