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Columbia University Doctors Ask For Dr. Mehmet Oz's Dismissal

circletimessquare writes Dr. Mehmet Oz serves as vice chairman of Columbia University Medical Center's department of surgery. He is a respected cardiothoracic surgeon but his television show has been accused of pushing snake oil. Now other doctors at Columbia University want Dr. Oz kicked off the medical school faculty. Dr. Oz has responded on his Facebook account: "I bring the public information that will help them on their path to be their best selves. 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. For example, 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." In their letter, the doctors accuse Dr. Oz of quackery: "Dr. Oz has repeatedly shown disdain for science and for evidence-based medicine, as well as baseless and relentless opposition to the genetic engineering of food crops. Worst of all, he has manifested an egregious lack of integrity by promoting quack treatments and cures in the interest of personal financial gain."

6 of 320 comments (clear)

  1. Re:in my opinion this guy is like Jenny McCarthy by circletimessquare · · Score: 2, Interesting

    he's not questioning groupthink

    he's pushing antiscience quackery while wearing the mantle of respectable surgeon

    in the name of ignorant groupthink

    you have it backwards

    do you believe science is just groupthink?

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    intellectual property law is philosophically incoherent. it is your moral duty to ignore it or sabotage it
  2. I guess he crossed the wrong people by voislav98 · · Score: 4, Interesting

    As long as he was peddling magical dietary supplements and weight loss pills he was a lovable scamp and was allowed to carry on with his mischief. But as soon as he dared cross Monsanto, he is a quack that must be squashed.

    1. Re:I guess he crossed the wrong people by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Round Up Ready crops are a response to no-till farming. Tilling is a great way to kill weeds, at the expense of losing the soil. No till solves the erosion problem, but weeds become a real problem. Enter herbicide resistant crops such as Round Up Ready stuff.

      Pick your problem: soil erosion, herbicides, or weed problems. Farmers seem to prefer herbicide.

  3. Re:in my opinion this guy is like Jenny McCarthy by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

    story I'll just leave that there for you to look at. Artic will be completely ice free by 2013, by your scientists that shouldn't be questioned.

    Here it is 2015 and I'm the idiot for pointing out they are wrong. This is why I think science is groupthink. They made a prediction, they were 100% wrong in outcome, and I get called names by pointing it out. This happened in the past. A guy said the earth rotates around the sun and had evidence, but everyone else called him a heretic and said he was wrong and the sun rotates around the earth.

  4. Re:in my opinion this guy is like Jenny McCarthy by SuricouRaven · · Score: 3, Interesting

    His previous endorsements include numerous dubious weight-loss products, reiki, homoepathy and faith healing. He used to be a doctor, but then he became a TV personality too - and his medical 'advice' on TV is driven by purely commercial motives: He says whatever brings in the ratings and keeps the viewers returning. Even the British Medical Journal has condemned him for the lack of scientific backing for many of his recommendations.

    It makes more sense if you read some of the leaked documents from Sony relating to the show. They shed a bit of light on what's going on: Sony are trying to launch him to greater fame by using Oprah as a model, and issue directives regarding what he is supposed to endorse or avoid saying based on market research. The documents indicate some concern from producers that his show was focusing on weight loss and discouraging repeat viewing (No-one likes to be reminded they are fat), so he was told to find something that viewers would really like to hear. Like some miracle cures.

  5. Re:Crying? by gstoddart · · Score: 3, Interesting

    You want proof?

    How about we start with this:

    Oz many times acknowledged products he told viewers to use are not scientifically supported and don't have the research to be presented as fact.

    He has more or less publicly admitted that he hawks stuff which there is insufficient evidence for.

    He's a paid shill, with little medical credibility, because he advocates which he is paid to advocate.

    Which means he has now stayed into being entertainment, but not fact or medicine. But he sure as hell isn't acting as a credible medical professional.

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    Lost at C:>. Found at C.