Doctors Call for Dr. Oz Firing From Columbia Med School Board: ‘He’s a Quack, ‘Fake,’ ‘Charlatan’
A prominent group of medical experts sent a letter to the school requesting his removal
Joe Otterson | April 17, 2015 @ 12:34 PM
Last Updated: April 17, 2015 @ 1:21 PM
Dr. Mehmet Oz has come under fire from a group of fellow doctors who want him removed from the Columbia University’s medical school board.
Oz currently serves as the vice chairman of the school’s department of surgery. The group took issue with claims he has made that they say lack scientific backing.
Dr. Henry Miller, the Robert Wesson Fellow in scientific philosophy and public policy at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution, wrote in the letter: “He’s a fake and a quack and a charlatan.”
“I think I know the motivation at Columbia,” Miller also wrote. “They’re star-struck, and like having on their faculty the best-known doctor in the country. But the fact is that his advice endangers patients, and this doesn’t seem to faze them.”
Dr. Gilbert Ross, the executive director and medical director of the American Council on Science and Health, wrote: “We find it a shame that [Oz] has fled from the ethical and responsible practice of medicine to exploit his television popularity.”
Miller, Ross and the others who signed the letter took issue with Oz’s support of homeopathic remedies, which they refer to as “magical mystery cures,” specifically his endorsement of products like green coffee bean extract, raspberry ketones and the pumpkin-like fruit garcinia cambogia.
“He has manifested an egregious lack of integrity by promoting quack treatments and cures in the interest of personal financial gain,” the letter reads.
The doctors also took Oz to task for his opposition to genetically modified organisms, or GMOs.
In a statement issued through a representative, Dr. Oz said, “I do not claim that GMO foods are dangerous, but believe that they should be labeled like they are in most countries around the world.
“I bring the public information that will help them on their path to be their best selves,” Oz’s statement continued. “We provide multiple points of view, including mine, which is offered without conflict of interest. That doesn’t sit well with certain agendas which distort the facts.”
Columbia University issued a statement supporting their decision to keep Oz on the board. “Columbia is committed to the principle of academic freedom and to upholding faculty members’ freedom of expression for statements they make in public discussions,” the statement said.
Dr. Oz, a respected cardiothoracic surgeon, came to prominence when he began appearing as a health expert on “The Oprah Winfrey Show.” His popularity led to him getting his own syndicated talk show, which is produced by Winfrey’s Harpo Studios.
11 TV Shows Canceled by Controversy -- From 'Honey Boo Boo' to 'Politically Incorrect' (Photos)
Paula Deen’s Food Network shows - After admitting to using racial slurs, The Food Network severed their relationship with Deen and canceled her shows “Paula’s Home Cooking,” “Paula’s Best Dishes,” and “Paula’s Party.”
Food Network
“Politically Incorrect” – ABC pulled the plug on Bill Maher’s talk show after the host disagreed with President Bush calling the terrorists behind the September 11th attacks cowards. Maher asserted that the U.S. military response in the Middle East was cowardly, saying: “We have been the cowards, lobbing cruise missiles from 2,000 miles away. That's cowardly. Staying in the airplane when it hits the building, say what you want about it, it's not cowardly."
“Here Comes Honey Boo Boo” – TLC abruptly canceled the reality show after reports that June Shannon, mother to the young star of the series, was dating a convicted child molester.
TLC
“Ford Nation” – Toronto Mayor Rob Ford’s talk show, co-hosted by his brother Doug, lasted only one episode. The program premiered on the same day the Toronto City Council voted to strip Ford of most of his powers and budget.
Getty Images
“The Good Life” – CeeLo Green’s reality show was canned by TBS days after the musician pleaded no contest to a felony charge of giving a woman the drug ecstasy. He then tweeted: “People who have really been raped REMEMBER!!!”
Getty Images
“7th Heaven,” in syndication – Reruns of The WB series were pulled from UP TV after audio tapes surfaced of the show’s patriarchal star Stephen Collins admitting to child molestation.
The WB
CNN’s Hillary Clinton documentary – Director Charles Ferguson pulled out of the project after Democrats, Republicans and the Clintons themselves criticized the film. CNN Films then canceled their plans to move forward with the documentary.
Getty Images
“All My Babies' Mamas” – Oxygen was in the midst of developing a special featuring rapper Shawty Lo and his family of 11 children from 10 different women. An online petition to cancel the show led the cable channel to shelve the project.
Oxygen
“Buckwild” – MTV suspended production on the reality series following the death of cast member Shain Gandee. The 21-year-old was found dead of accidental carbon monoxide poisoning.
MTV
"Flip It Forward" – Twin brothers Jason and David Benham were set to star in their own HGTV series, but the network shut down those plans after learning about homophobic, anti-Muslim and anti-abortion statements they’d made in the past.
HGTV
1 of 11
All of these series had the plug pulled on them under less than ideal circumstances
Paula Deen’s Food Network shows - After admitting to using racial slurs, The Food Network severed their relationship with Deen and canceled her shows “Paula’s Home Cooking,” “Paula’s Best Dishes,” and “Paula’s Party.”