Betz also criticized attempts to bestow recognition to homeopathy, acupuncture, osteopathy, and chiropractic. He noted that one could equally well legitimize the laying on of hands or prayer healing, which score equally well (or badly) for patients due to placebo effects.
His point of view led to animated discussions with opponents, sometimes in national media. That today alternative therapies are still not recognized in Belgium is largely due to Betz’s ardent criticism.
In 2012, Betz was awarded the Outstanding Skeptics Award by the European Council of Skeptical Organizations (ECSO). He was the first Belgian to be awarded the Gebroeders Bruinsma Erepenning by the venerable Dutch Vereniging tegen de Kwakzalverij (Society against Quackery, founded in 1881). He played an important role in our organization and was a source of inspiration to all of us. He will be sorely missed.