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[[image:rath.jpg|Matthias Rath|thumb]]
[[image:rath.jpg|Matthias Rath|thumb]]
[[image:Rathpropaganda.jpg|typical propaganda|thumb]]
[[image:Rathpropaganda.jpg|typical propaganda|thumb]]
'''Matthias Rath''' (born 1955 in Stuttgart / Germany) is a controversial German physician, businessman, vitamin entrepreneur, and politician. He invented an [[alternative medicine]] called "[[cellular medicine]]" (German original: Zellularmedizin) which according to Rath is able to "heal" severe diseases like AIDS or cancer.
'''Matthias Rath''' (born in Stuttgart / Germany in 1955) is a controversial German physician and miracle healer. He invented an [[alternative medicine]] called "[[cellular medicine]]" (German original: Zellularmedizin) which makes promises of healing severe diseases like cancer and AIDS.
Rath sells several products in Europe ("[[micronutrient]]s" and vitamins) which are marketed from the Netherlands for legal reasons. (see: [[Dr. Hittich Gesundheitsmittel]]) <!-- Cannot find an english website of Hittich. Skip that one for en-Wiki? -->Rath runs the "Dr. Rath Health Foundation" which was closely associated with "Health Now" Inc., and he also founded a "Dr. Rath Research Institute".
Rath sells several products in Europe ("[[micronutrient]]s" or vitamins) which are marketed from the Netherlands for legal reasons. (see: [[Dr. Hittich Gesundheitsmittel]]) Rath runs the company "Dr. Rath Health Foundation" which is closely associated with Health Now" Inc. and also founded a "Dr. Rath Research Institute".
Rath has spent millions in advertising to portray himself as a saviour of the sick who is oppressed by pharmaceutical industry (whose products he sells!). Some of his products may indeed not be sold in several countries, e.g. in Germany, because they exceed the safety limits for vitamins in nutritional products. In this case, they will not be regarded as nutritional products but as pharmaceuticals and need to be certified as such. Studies that prove the effectiveness would have to be provided, a feat Rath was not able to accomplish for now.
Rath spent millions in advertising to portray himself as a saviour of the world who is oppressed by pharmaceutical industry (which he happens to be part of, given the products sold!). Some of his products may indeed not be sold in Germany, because in some cases safety limits for vitamins in nutritional products were exceeded. These products therefore will not be regarded as dietary supplements (foods), but as pharmaceuticals and thus are subject to a market authorization. Studies proving the efficacy would have to be provided but could not be accomplished so far.
Rath came into conflict with South African law several times since he advised persons suffering from HIV/AIDS against antiretroviral therapies and instead recommended his own cellular medicine.
==Overview cellular medicine==
==Overview cellular medicine==
[[Cellular medicine]] as propagated by Rath has proved to be ineffective in scientific studies. In industrial nations like Germany, vitamin deficiency calling for treatment is a very rare problem and needs to be verified in order to justify a substitution of vitamins actually absent by vitamin-containing agents. Only in suc cases the vitamins actually missing should be substituted. An overdose of vitamins may cause grave undesirable side-effects. This is especially the case with liposoluble vitamins.
Cellular medicine may been seen as Rath's interpretation of [[orthomolecular medicine]] (OM) which is based on the ideas of Linus Pauling.
Pauling himself has been criticized for making immoderate claims.<ref>Barrett, SJ (2001-05-05). [http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/pauling.html "The dark side of Linus Pauling's legacy], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quackwatch Quackwatch]</ref> Rath's attempts to render some scientific semblance to his own vastly exaggerated claims, however, are obstructed by the fact that even Pauling's work does not support them. His employment with the Linus Pauling Institute ended in discord and he sued the institute for interfering with his business activities.<ref>http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/sep/12/matthiasrath.southafrica</ref>
==The case Dominik Feld==
==The case Dominik Feld==
[[image:Rathdominikfeld.jpg|Rath with Dominik Feld|thumb]]
[[image:Rathdominikfeld.jpg|Rath with Dominik Feld|thumb]]
[[image:Rathdominik090204.jpg|Marketing campaign|left|thumb]]
[[image:Rathdominik090204.jpg|Marketing campaign|left|thumb]]
The case of Dominik Feld who developed a metastatic bone tumor and died while being treated with ''cellular medicine'' was widely covered by German media. Rath declared the cancer-ridden nine-year-old ''healed'' during various events, as a marketing scheme for the effectiveness of his vitamin pills.<ref>[http://www.spiegel.de/spiegel/print/d-36625928.html The case Dominik Feld in German magazine "The Spiegel"]</ref> The parents, believing in Rath, had stopped their son's chemotherapy treatment in May 2003, and hoped for better healing prospects using Rath's products. They started treatment with micro-nutrients, the vitamin products of Dr. Rath. They took their son to a clinic for [[alternative medicine]] in Tijuana, Mexico which applies treatment according to Rath's methods. The nine-year-old boy died on November 1, 2004.
The case of Dominik Feld who developed a metastasizing bone tumor and died while being treated with ''cellular medicine'' was widely covered by German media. Rath had used the nine year old cancer patient as a sales promoter regarding the efficacy of his vitamin pills and declared him healed.<ref>[http://www.spiegel.de/spiegel/print/d-36625928.html The case Dominik Feld in German magazine "The Spiegel"]</ref> The parents, believing in Rath still today, had canceled their son's chemotherapy treatment in May 2003, and hoped for better healing prospects using Rath's compounds. They started treatment with micro-nutrients, the vitamin products of Dr. Rath. In September 2004, they finally took their son to a clinic for [[alternative medicine]] in Tijuana, Mexico which applies treatment according to Rath's methods. The nine-year-old boy died there on November 1, 2004.
Quickly, Rath placed several commercial advertisements claiming the boy did not die from cancer, but from coronary failure and malpractice - a botch-up by orthodox medicine. Unfortunately, the autopsy established a big tumor in his chest which had applied pressure on lung and heart.<ref>[http://www.swr.de/report/presse/-/id=1197424/nid=1197424/did=2560136/1tf7kd5/index.html German News on "Der Fall Dominik"]</ref><ref>[http://de.wikinews.org/wiki/Todesermittlungsverfahren:_Dominik_Feld_starb_an_metastasierendem_Knochenkrebs_und_Tumorkachexie Wikinews on Dominik Felds death]</ref><ref>[http://www.aerzteblatt.de/v4/news/news.asp?id=25742 German Ärzteblatt on Dominik Feld]</ref>
Quickly, Rath placed several large-scale commercial advertisements claiming the boy did not die from cancer, but from coronary failure and malpractice - a "botch-up of orthodox medicine". The autopsy, however, established a big tumor in his chest which had applied pressure on lung and heart.<ref>[http://www.swr.de/report/presse/-/id=1197424/nid=1197424/did=2560136/1tf7kd5/index.html German News on "Der Fall Dominik"]</ref><ref>[http://de.wikinews.org/wiki/Todesermittlungsverfahren:_Dominik_Feld_starb_an_metastasierendem_Knochenkrebs_und_Tumorkachexie Wikinews on Dominik Felds death]</ref><ref>[http://www.aerzteblatt.de/v4/news/news.asp?id=25742 German Ärzteblatt on Dominik Feld]</ref>
Rath wrote about the death of the Dominik Feld:<ref>[http://www.abendblatt.de/vermischtes/article710180/Dominik-tot-Ermittlungen-gegen-Krebs-Arzt.html German newspaper on Dominik Feld and the investigation against Rath]</ref>
Rath wrote about the death of Dominik Feld:<ref>[http://www.abendblatt.de/vermischtes/article710180/Dominik-tot-Ermittlungen-gegen-Krebs-Arzt.html German newspaper on Dominik Feld and the investigation against Rath]</ref>
:''"Jetzt bist du endlich frei, Dominik! Hier auf der Erde warst du gefangen, festgehalten auf einer Insel der Krebskranken. Wie Millionen Krebspatienten mit dir warst du angekettet an die Fesseln der Chemo-Medizin."''
:''"Jetzt bist du endlich frei, Dominik! Hier auf der Erde warst du gefangen, festgehalten auf einer Insel der Krebskranken. Wie Millionen Krebspatienten mit dir warst du angekettet an die Fesseln der Chemo-Medizin."''
:''"Now you are free, Dominik! Here on earth you were imprisoned, held on an island of the cancer-afflicted. Same as millions of cancer patients, you were chained by the bonds of the chemotherapy"''
:''"Now you are free, Dominik! Here on earth you were imprisoned, held on an island of the cancer-afflicted. Same as millions of cancer patients, you were chained by the bonds of the chemotherapy"''
==Matthias Rath and AIDS==
==Matthias Rath and AIDS==
[[image:rathdemo.jpg|Demo against Rath in South Africa|left|thumb]]
[[image:rathdemo.jpg|Protest rally against Rath in South Africa|left|thumb]]
[[image:RathSpiegel45-2005.jpg|thumb]]
[[image:RathSpiegel45-2005.jpg|thumb]]
Rath and his foundation saw legal investigations in South Africa after they had raised false hopes with AIDS victims and advised them not to take antiretrovirals, but instead trust [[cellular medicine]]. Rath was accused of conducting illegal experiments on humans.<ref>http://www.health-e.org.za/news/article.php?uid=20031294</ref> The experiments were found to be in violation of South African law in the case "TAC vs. Rath" on June 13th, 2008 in Cape Town. The court ruled that the vitamin products of Rath must not be advertised as a cure of HIV/AIDS<ref>http://www.brot-fuer-die-welt.de/downloads/fachinformationen/hintergrundpapier_rath-tac.pdf</ref><ref>[http://www.tac.org.za/community/RathWrongs Wrong doings of Rath]</ref>
Rath and his foundation had to answer to a court in South Africa after they had raised false hopes with AIDS victims, discouraged them from antiretroviral therapy, and instead recommended his [[cellular medicine]]. Rath was also accused of conducting illegal experiments on humans.<ref>http://www.health-e.org.za/news/article.php?uid=20031294</ref> The experiments were found to be in violation of South African law, judges stated in the case "TAC vs. Rath" on June 13, 2008 in Cape Town. The court ruled that Rath must not advertise his vitamin products as a cure for HIV/AIDS<ref>http://www.brot-fuer-die-welt.de/downloads/fachinformationen/hintergrundpapier_rath-tac.pdf</ref><ref>[http://www.tac.org.za/community/RathWrongs Wrong doings of Rath]</ref>
In March 2006, Rath was convicted of libel against the NRO TAC, Treatment Action Campain, in Cape Town.<ref>[http://www.tac.org.za/community/rath Treatment Action Campaign vs. Rath]</ref>
In March 2006, Rath was convicted of libel against the NRO TAC, Treatment Action Campain, in Cape Town.<ref>[http://www.tac.org.za/community/rath Treatment Action Campaign vs. Rath]</ref>
In an opening speech of the International AIDS vaccine conference in Cape Town in 2008, the newly appointed South African Health Minister Barbara Hogan made a clear statement that AIDS is caused by HIV and must be fought with evidence-based medicine.<ref>http://www.timeslive.co.za/thetimes/article29163.ece</ref>
In an opening speech at the International AIDS vaccine conference in Cape Town in 2008, the newly appointed South African Health Minister Barbara Hogan left no doubt that AIDS is caused by HIV and must be fought with evidence-based medicine.<ref>http://www.timeslive.co.za/thetimes/article29163.ece</ref>
1,000 people die from AIDS in South Africa every day. Hogan assured to prohibit vitamin treatments of HIV positive persons. This was in direct reference to the business practices of Rath who had done advertising campaigns for his treatments in South Africa for years. In 2005, WHO and UNICEF had cautioned against this method of treating AIDS.<ref>http://data.unaids.org/Media/Press-Statements01/ps_rath_30mar05_en.pdf</ref><ref>http://data.unaids.org/Media/Press-Releases03/pr_rath_11may05_en.pdf</ref><ref>http://web.archive.org/web/20071020134733/http://www.gwup.org/aktuell/news.php?aktion=detail&id=271</ref>
1,000 persons are said to die from AIDS in South Africa every day. Hogan also promised to see to the prohibition of vitamin treatments of HIV positive persons. This refered to the business activities of Rath, amongst others, who had enforced advertising campaigns for his vitamin treatments in South Africa for years. Already in 2005, WHO and UNICEF had cautioned against this method of treating AIDS.<ref>http://data.unaids.org/Media/Press-Statements01/ps_rath_30mar05_en.pdf</ref><ref>http://data.unaids.org/Media/Press-Releases03/pr_rath_11may05_en.pdf</ref><ref>http://web.archive.org/web/20071020134733/http://www.gwup.org/aktuell/news.php?aktion=detail&id=271</ref>
This new South African Health policy ended a ten year era of [[HIV/AIDS denial]] which was maintained by the former president Thabo Mbeki and his Minister of Health Manto Tshabalala-Msimang.<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thabo_Mbeki#AIDS</ref><ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HIV/AIDS_in_South_Africa</ref><ref>http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/dec/17/mbeki-south-africa-aids</ref> Tshabalala-Msimang was given the nickname Dr. Garlic because of her treatment of AIDS patients with [[garlic]], beetroot, and olive oil instead of antiretrovirals.<ref>http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/5319680.stm</ref> When the new SA president Kgalema Motlanthe took office, he transfered Tshabalala-Msimang to a less important position. AIDS activists celebrated this with a party in front of the parliament. Tshabalala-Msimang is blamed to have caused the death of thousands of AIDS victims.
This new South African Health policy ended a ten year era of [[HIV/AIDS denial]] which was maintained by the former president Thabo Mbeki and his Minister of Health Manto Tshabalala-Msimang.<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thabo_Mbeki#AIDS</ref><ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HIV/AIDS_in_South_Africa</ref><ref>http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/dec/17/mbeki-south-africa-aids</ref> Tshabalala-Msimang became known as Dr. Garlic because she propagated treating AIDS patients with [[garlic]], beetroot, and olive oil instead of antiretroviral pharmaceuticals.<ref>http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/5319680.stm</ref> When the new SA president Kgalema Motlanthe took office, he displaced Tshabalala-Msimang and transfered her to a less important position in his cabinet. AIDS activists celebrated this with a party in front of the parliament. Tshabalala-Msimang was blamed for having caused the death of hundreds of thousands of AIDS victims.
'''Aftermath:''' The rejection of conventional AIDS therapies in South Africa has caused the avoidable death of 330,000 AIDS victims between 2000 and 2005.<ref>http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/press-releases/2008-releases/researchers-estimate-lives-lost-delay-arv-drug-use-hivaids-south-africa.html</ref><ref>http://www.aerzteblatt.de/v4/news/news.asp?id=34133</ref> According to a study published in the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes, a further 35,000 newborns were infected because they were denied prophylaxis with Nevirapin.<ref>Pride Chigwedere, George R Seage III, Sofia Gruskin, Tun-Hou Lee, Estimating the Lost Benefits of Antiretroviral Drug Use in South Africa.JAIDS 2008 doi: 10.1097/QAI.0b013e31818a6cd5 Online: http://image.guardian.co.uk/sys-files/Guardian/documents/2008/11/26/harvard-universityreport.pdf</ref> In 2000, pharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim offered to supply the medicament Nevirapin free of charge to avoid mother-child infection, but the offer was dismissed. Only two pilot projects were permitted. Donations by the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tubercolosis and Malaria for the province KwaZulu Natal were blocked for more than a year according to Pride Chigwedere, who had treated HIV patients in Simbabwe before he worked for the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston.
'''Aftermath:''' The rejection of effective AIDS therapies in South Africa has caused the avoidable death of 330,000 AIDS victims between 2000 and 2005.<ref>http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/press-releases/2008-releases/researchers-estimate-lives-lost-delay-arv-drug-use-hivaids-south-africa.html</ref><ref>http://www.aerzteblatt.de/v4/news/news.asp?id=34133</ref> According to a study published in the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes, a further 35,000 newborns were infected because they were denied prophylaxis with Nevirapin.<ref>Pride Chigwedere, George R Seage III, Sofia Gruskin, Tun-Hou Lee, Estimating the Lost Benefits of Antiretroviral Drug Use in South Africa.JAIDS 2008 doi: 10.1097/QAI.0b013e31818a6cd5 Online: http://image.guardian.co.uk/sys-files/Guardian/documents/2008/11/26/harvard-universityreport.pdf</ref> In 2000, pharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim offered to supply the medicament Nevirapin free of charge to avoid mother-child infection, but the offer was dismissed. Only two pilot projects were permitted. Furthermore, donations by the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tubercolosis and Malaria for the province KwaZulu Natal were blocked for more than a year according to Pride Chigwedere, who had treated HIV patients in Simbabwe prior to his occupation with the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston.
In 2009, a shipment of vitamin pills was busted by the Department of Health investigators as part of an ongoing investigation in Cape Town, and criminal cases against Rath were opened.<ref>http://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/drug-bust-at-ctn-airport-1.437824</ref>
In 2009, a 1,000 kg shipment of Rath's vitamin pills was confiscated by the Department of Health in South Africa, and criminal proceedings were initiated.<ref>http://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/drug-bust-at-ctn-airport-1.437824</ref>
==Rath as a politician==
==Rath as a politician==
In June 2005, the Dr. Rath Health Foundation established a small political party ''Allianz für Gesundheit, Frieden und soziale Gerechtigkeit''(Alliance for health, freedom and social fairness) (AGFG) in Germany which was led by Rath's PR-Manager Lutz Kliche. Rath himself was assistant chairman for some time.
In June 2005, the Dr. Rath Health Foundation established a small political party by the name of ''Allianz für Gesundheit, Frieden und soziale Gerechtigkeit''(Alliance for Health, Freedom and Social Justice) (AGFG) in Germany which is headed by Rath's PR manager Lutz Kliche. Rath used to be a vice chairman initially.
Core of the party platform are hypotheses of [[cellular medicine]] in combination with Rath's far-reaching [[conspiracy theory|conspiracy theories]]. He views the denial of admission for his products as proof of a so-called "Pharma Dictatorship" which controled politicians and scientists all over the world and acted as a puppet master. On his website and in leaflets, he contends "the pharma cartel declared war on health and life of the entire mankind". He further insinuates that "vitamins and other naturopathic medicines" were suppressed and defamed out of greed, to sell "ineffective drugs" which just treated the symptoms to earn more money at the expense of customers. Excerpts from professional articles, leaflets, and news items are presented in the way of ostensible proof.
This aggressive strategy was prohibited by court order in 1998. In the reasons for the judgment, the court of Berlin states:
This aggressive strategy was prohibited by court order in 1998. In the reasons for the judgment, the court of Berlin stated:
:''"Bei der Broschüre handelt es sich um ein Konglomerat von Tatsachenverdrehungen, Anschwärzungen und schlichten Unwahrheiten. Sie ist in toto auf Manipulation und Täuschung angelegt."''
:''"Bei der Broschüre handelt es sich um ein Konglomerat von Tatsachenverdrehungen, Anschwärzungen und schlichten Unwahrheiten. Sie ist in toto auf Manipulation und Täuschung angelegt."''
:''"The brochure is a conglomerate of distortion of facts, defamation and simple falsehoods. Its purpose is to manipulate and deceive."''
:''"The brochure is a conglomerate of distortion of facts, libel, and plain falsehoods. It is in toto designed at manipulation and deception."''
In a running campaign by his party AGFG started in 2006, Rath warns against an imminent nuclear war with the purpose of establishing a "Pharma Dictatorship".
In a running campaign by his party AGFG started in 2006, Rath even warns against an imminent nuclear war which meant to establish a "Pharma Dictatorship".
He also applied an embarrassing comparison to the Holocaust: A statement by AGFG quotes a speech given by Rath, titled "Auschwitz wird zum Wendepunkt der Geschichte" (Auschwitz becomes a turning point in history). The speech was given during a visit at Auschwitz concentration camp where Rath declared Auschwitz was part of a "pharma genocide":<ref>http://web.archive.org/web/20080609012456/http://www.agfg.de/aktuell/2006oct/auschwitz.html</ref>
He also applied an embarrassing comparison to the Holocaust: A statement by AGFG quotes a speech given by Rath, titled "Auschwitz wird zum Wendepunkt der Geschichte" (Auschwitz becomes a turning point in history). Rath refers to a visit at Auschwitz concentration camp and draws a comparison to a "pharma genocide":<ref>http://web.archive.org/web/20080609012456/http://www.agfg.de/aktuell/2006oct/auschwitz.html</ref>
:''"Auschwitz ist nicht in der Vergangenheit abgeschlossen. Es dauert noch an. [...] Die grausamen Ereignisse in Auschwitz waren und sind nur ein Teil des größeren Zusammenhangs des weltweiten Pharma-Völkermordes!"''
:''"Auschwitz ist nicht in der Vergangenheit abgeschlossen. Es dauert noch an. [...] Die grausamen Ereignisse in Auschwitz waren und sind nur ein Teil des größeren Zusammenhangs des weltweiten Pharma-Völkermordes!"''
:''"Auschwitz is not contained in the past. It still goes on. [...] The horrible events in Auschwitz were and still are part of a greater context of worldwide "pharma genocide".
:''"Auschwitz was not completed in the past. It still goes on. [...] The horrible events in Auschwitz were and still are part of a greater context of a worldwide "pharma genocide".
In 2009, Rath tried to take influence on the Irish referendum on the new EU treaty. In a six-page-leaflet distributed to homes in Dublin, Rath claimed that voting "yes" will result in the militarization of Europe, and would turn Ireland into an ''Orwellian police state''. Europe was on its way to become fully controlled by Oil and Pharma cartels. The ''vitamin millionaire'' and pharmaceutical businessman Rath portrayed his own activities as those of a ''non-profit organization dedicated to improving human health through research, education and the defense of patients’ rights to choose natural health therapies''.<ref>http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2009/0922/1224254989371.html</ref>
In 2009, Rath tried to influence the Irish referendum on the new EU treaty. In a six-page-leaflet, Rath claimed that voting "yes" will result in the militarization of Europe, and would turn Ireland into an ''Orwellian police state''. Europe was on its way to become fully controlled by Oil and Pharma cartels. The ''vitamin millionaire'' and pharmaceutical businessman Rath portrayed his own activities as those of a ''non-profit organization dedicated to improving human health through research, education and the defense of patients’ rights to choose natural health therapies''.<ref>http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2009/0922/1224254989371.html</ref>
==Legal cases==
==Legal cases==
Rath has been involved in a number of legal cases.
Rath was involved in a number of legal cases.
*In 2000, the Court of Almelo in the Netherlands ordered Rath to stop making unfounded, false, and libellous statements about Dutch pharmaceutical company Numico.<ref name="Quackery">[http://www.thetimes.co.za/News/Article.aspx?id=785054 "Quackery quashed, but Rath's legacy lives" Donaldson A and Huisman B, The Times, SA, 14 June 2008] Accessed 16 June 2008.</ref><ref>[http://www.numico.com/NR/rdonlyres/9AE781C8-31EB-4D5D-AF55-20476B5B340C/273/CaseDrRath151100.pdf Press release describing Dutch court decision against Dr. Rath] for defamation, accessed 19 Sept 2006.</ref>
*In 2000, the Court of Almelo in the Netherlands ordered Rath to stop making unfounded, false, and defamatory statements about Dutch pharmaceutical company Numico.<ref name="Quackery">[http://www.thetimes.co.za/News/Article.aspx?id=785054 "Quackery quashed, but Rath's legacy lives" Donaldson A and Huisman B, The Times, SA, 14 June 2008] Accessed 16 June 2008.</ref><ref>[http://www.numico.com/NR/rdonlyres/9AE781C8-31EB-4D5D-AF55-20476B5B340C/273/CaseDrRath151100.pdf Press release describing Dutch court decision against Dr. Rath] for defamation, accessed 19 Sept 2006.</ref>
*In 2002, British Advertising Standards Authority ruled that advertisements by Rath contained misleading and false claims and ordered the claims removed.<ref name="Quackery"/><ref>[http://www.tac.org.za/Documents/Court_Cases/Rath/BritishASARulingAgainstRath.pdf Ruling by the British Advertising Standards Association] against Matthias Rath for false and misleading advertising, accessed Sept 19, 2006.</ref>
*In 2002, British Advertising Standards Authority ruled that advertisements by Rath contained a series of misleading and false claims and ordered the claims removed.<ref name="Quackery"/><ref>[http://www.tac.org.za/Documents/Court_Cases/Rath/BritishASARulingAgainstRath.pdf Ruling by the British Advertising Standards Association] against Matthias Rath for false and misleading advertising, accessed Sept 19, 2006.</ref>
*In 2002, the United States Food and Drug Administration notified Rath that advertisements of his dietary supplements violated the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, by making claims of efficacy without undergoing the appropriate scientific and regulatory review.<ref name="Quackery"/><ref>[http://www.fda.gov/cder/warn/cyber/2002/CFSANvitacor.htm Letter from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration] warning Dr. Rath that his marketing campaign is in violation of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. Accessed 19 Sept 2006.</ref>
*In 2002, the United States Food and Drug Administration notified Rath he was promoting his supplements in a manner that violated the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, by making claims of efficacy without undergoing the appropriate scientific and regulatory review.<ref name="Quackery"/><ref>[http://www.fda.gov/cder/warn/cyber/2002/CFSANvitacor.htm Letter from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration] warning Dr. Rath that his marketing campaign is in violation of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. Accessed 19 Sept 2006.</ref>
*In 2005, the Advertising Standards Association of South Africa (ASASA) issued three separate rulings against Rath, for having made false and misleading claims regarding the efficacy of his products. His advertisements were described as "reckless in the extreme".<ref name="reckless">[http://www.aegis.org/news/dmg/2005/mg050807.html Matthias Rath's ads 'reckless in the extreme'], by Elvira van Noort. Published in the ''Mail & Guardian'' on August 30, 2005; accessed May 9, 2008.</ref><ref name="Quackery"/> Rath continued the advertisements, so ASASA consequently ruled that, "in light of the gravity of [Rath's] breaches", he was required to submit all further advertising to the ASASA for prior approval.<ref>[http://www.quackwatch.org/11Ind/rath3.html Rulings against Matthias Rath for false and misleading advertising] by the Advertising Standards Association of South Africa, accessed 19 Sept 2006.</ref>
*In 2005, the Advertising Standards Association of South Africa (ASASA) issued three separate rulings against Rath, for having made false and misleading claims regarding the effectiveness of his supplements and describing his advertisements as "reckless in the extreme".<ref name="reckless">[http://www.aegis.org/news/dmg/2005/mg050807.html Matthias Rath's ads 'reckless in the extreme'], by Elvira van Noort. Published in the ''Mail & Guardian'' on August 30, 2005; accessed May 9, 2008.</ref><ref name="Quackery"/> Rath continued the advertisements, leading the ASASA to rule that, "in light of the gravity of [Rath's] breaches", he was required to submit all further advertising to the ASASA for prior approval.<ref>[http://www.quackwatch.org/11Ind/rath3.html Rulings against Matthias Rath for false and misleading advertising] by the Advertising Standards Association of South Africa, accessed 19 Sept 2006.</ref>
*In 2006, the High Court of South Africa ruled that Rath had defamed the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC), a non-profit organization, by publicly making false and misleading statements about TAC. Rath was ordered to cease his defamatory remarks "to ensure that the TAC's continued participation in the debate is not hamstrung by defamatory and unfounded allegations."<ref name="Quackery"/><ref>[http://www.tac.org.za/Documents/Court_Cases/Rath/JudgmentTACvRath-20060303.pdf Judgement of the High Court of South Africa] ordering Rath to cease making defamatory and unfounded allegations against the Treatment Action Campaign. Accessed 19 Sept 2006.</ref>
*In 2006, the High Court of South Africa found that Rath had defamed the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC), an AIDS non-profit organization, by publicly making false and misleading statements about TAC. Rath was ordered to cease his defamatory remarks "to ensure that the TAC's continued participation in the debate is not hamstrung by defamatory and unfounded allegations."<ref name="Quackery"/><ref>[http://www.tac.org.za/Documents/Court_Cases/Rath/JudgmentTACvRath-20060303.pdf Judgement of the High Court of South Africa] ordering Rath to cease making defamatory and unfounded allegations against the Treatment Action Campaign. Accessed 19 Sept 2006.</ref>
*In 2006, the July 22 issue of ''British Medical Journal'' (BMJ) published a report informing that Rath faced trial in Hamburg, Germany "for fraud" in relation to the death of Dominik Feld. However, the BMJ subsequently retracted the report "on legal advice" and issued an apology to Rath, stating that the BMJ accepted that "the allegations we published were without foundation."<ref>[http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/extract/333/7569/621-b Dr Matthias Rath: an apology.] ''British Medical Journal'', 23 September 2006. Accessed January 2007.</ref> A subsequent libel claim by Rath was settled out of court by ''BMJ'' with a payment of ₤100,000.<ref>[http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/334/7595/656 News in Brief], from the ''British Medical Journal'', 2007;334:656 (31 March).</ref><ref>[http://www.pressgazette.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=1&storycode=37846&c=1 'BMJ pays out to doctor over 'child death' story.’] Press Gazette magazine. Published June 5, 2007. Accessed April 10, 2008.</ref>
*In 2006, the July 22 issue of the ''British Medical Journal'' (BMJ) published a news item reporting that Rath had gone on trial in Hamburg, Germany "for fraud" in relation to the death of Dominik Feld. However, the BMJ subsequently retracted the news item "on legal advice" and issued an apology to Rath, stating that the BMJ accepted that "the allegations we published were without foundation."<ref>[http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/extract/333/7569/621-b Dr Matthias Rath: an apology.] ''British Medical Journal'', 23 September 2006. Accessed January 2007.</ref> A subsequent libel claim by Rath was settled by the ''BMJ'' for ₤100,000.<ref>[http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/334/7595/656 News in Brief], from the ''British Medical Journal'', 2007;334:656 (31 March).</ref><ref>[http://www.pressgazette.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=1&storycode=37846&c=1 'BMJ pays out to doctor over 'child death' story.’] Press Gazette magazine. Published June 5, 2007. Accessed April 10, 2008.</ref>
*In 2006, Rath was prosecuted in Germany for distributing vitamins over the internet without a pharmaceutical licence, and for claiming on his website that vitamins were able cure cancer. Rath settled the case out of court with an amount of EUR 33,000, paid to an organisation helping disabled children.<ref>''Hamburger Morgenpost'', October 10, 2006, [http://archiv.mopo.de/archiv/2006/20061010/hamburg/panorama/vitamin_arzt_rath_muss_33000_euro_zahlen.html Vitamin-Arzt Rath muss 33000 Euro zahlen]</ref>
*In 2006, Rath was prosecuted in Germany for distributing vitamins over the internet without a pharmaceutical licence, and for claiming that vitamins could cure cancer on his website. Rath settled the case with a EUR 33,000 fine, paid to an organisation helping disabled children, and amended the website.<ref>''Hamburger Morgenpost'', October 10, 2006, [http://archiv.mopo.de/archiv/2006/20061010/hamburg/panorama/vitamin_arzt_rath_muss_33000_euro_zahlen.html Vitamin-Arzt Rath muss 33000 Euro zahlen]</ref>
*In 2007, the German Federal Constitutional Court ruled that the ban on the brochures "No ban on vitamines! Stop the pharma cartel" and "Stop the codex plans of the pharma cartel", by judgement of courts in Berlin in 2000/2001, was unjustified as this violated the right of free speech.<ref>[http://www.judicialis.de/Bundesverfassungsgericht_1-BvR-2041-02_Beschluss_12.07.2007.html Judgement of German Federal Constitutional Court of July 12, 2007, no. 1 BvR 2041/02.] Published 2007. Accessed April 16, 2008.</ref>
*In 2007, the German Federal Constitutional Court issued a ruling in favour of Rath. The Federal Constitutional Court found that the prohibition of the brochure and poster "Stop the pharma cartel" and "Stop the codex-plans of the pharma cartel" by judgement of courts in Berlin in 2000/2001 was unjustified as it violated Rath's fundamental rights, e.g. the right of free speech.<ref>[http://www.judicialis.de/Bundesverfassungsgericht_1-BvR-2041-02_Beschluss_12.07.2007.html Judgement of German Federal Constitutional Court of July 12, 2007, no. 1 BvR 2041/02.] Published 2007. Accessed April 16, 2008.</ref>
*In 2008, the Cape Town High Court issued a verdict barring Rath from advertising his products as a treatment for AIDS, and stating that clinical tests he had been running in black townships were illegal. The court also ruled that "Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang and her department had a duty to investigate Rath's activities."<ref>[http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=15&art_id=nw20080613124210476C691501 IOL News for South Africa and the World]</ref>
*In 2008, the Cape Town High Court issued a verdict barring Rath from advertising his products as a treatment for AIDS, and stating that clinical tests he had been running in black townships were illegal. The ruling also ruled that "Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang and her department had a duty to investigate Rath's activities."<ref>[http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=15&art_id=nw20080613124210476C691501 IOL News for South Africa and the World]</ref>
*In 2008, Ben Goldacre and ''The Guardian'' were sued for libel by Matthias Rath for the contents of three articles describing Rath's activities in South Africa.<ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2007/jan/20/southafrica.aids No way to treat an Aids hero]</ref><ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2007/jan/27/aids.badscience 'Gambia's president may be weird, but AIDS superstitions strike closer to home’] The Guardian. Published January 27, 2007. Accessed July 30, 2008.</ref><ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2007/feb/17/badscience.uknews 'How money is not the only barrier to Aids patients getting hold of drugs’] The Guardian. Published February 17, 2007. Accessed July 30, 2008.</ref> In September 2008, Rath dropped the lawsuit and was ordered to pay costs which by then amounted to £220,000.<ref name="FallofRath">[http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/sep/12/matthiasrath.aids2 Fall of the vitamin doctor: Matthias Rath drops libel action], by Sarah Boseley. The Guardian, UK, 12 September 2008</ref> Goldacre voiced an interest in writing a "meticulously referenced" work on Rath and South African [[HIV/AIDS denial]].<ref>[http://www.badscience.net/2008/09/matthias-rath-pulls-out-forced-to-pay-the-guardians-costs-i-think-this-means-i-win/ 'Matthias Rath drops his million pound legal case against me and the Guardian'] badscience.net. Published September 12, 2008. Accessed September 20, 2008</ref> A chapter of Goldacre's book ''Bad Science'', omitted from the first edition due to the litigation, was reinstated in later editions and is also made available on his website.
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