Quackery

Quackery is the practice of promoting medicine which lacks any evidence of effectiveness. Those who practice quackery, the "quacks", are in the business of selling false hope to ill-informed people.

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The word derives from quacksalver, an archaic word originally of Dutch origin (spelled kwakzalver in contemporary Dutch), meaning "boaster who applies a salve." Note that "quac-" means unguent, perhaps a deliberate pun.

Related Topics:
Dutch - Salve - Unguent

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It is often difficult to distinguish between those who knowingly promote unproven medical therapies and those who are mistaken as to their effectiveness. In libel cases in US courts against people who accused others of being guilty of quackery, the courts have ruled that accusing someone of quackery or calling him a quack is not equal to calling him a fraud — that in order to be both a quack and a fraud, the quack has to know that the medical services provided are unproven and ineffective.

Related Topics:
Libel - US

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