# Dr. Oz promotion of quackery **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 8, 2013, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-oz-promotion-of-quackery/665695 "2013-08-08T12:34:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![eclectic\_wench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ac91a4/32.png) [@eclectic\_wench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eclectic_wench)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2013, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-oz-promotion-of-quackery/665695/21 "2013-08-08T22:23:30Z")
Dr Oz is real?! For the last week my spam emails have been trying to get me to buy his weight-loss somethingorother (I’ve only read the subject lines). I thought he was made up. Somehow, in spite of informing me that he actually exists, this thread hasn’t made me take him any more seriously. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2013, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-oz-promotion-of-quackery/665695/22 "2013-08-08T22:44:19Z")
Dr. Oz took a blowtorch to his reputation long ago by [embracing ridiculous woo](http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/dr-oz-once-the-learner-now-the-master-of-woo/). Possibly the worst aspect of this is Oz’s repeated promotion of Joe Mercola, a popular web-based purveyor of quackery (including the notion that cancer is a fungus and that you can cure it with bicarbonate). On [one of his appearances](http://scienceblogs.com/insolence/2012/04/04/dr-oz-promotes-quackeryagain/) on Oz’s show, Mercola claimed that: ``` "Eggplant cream can cure skin cancer. Amalgam fillings release mercury that causes “brain fog,” but you can cure yourself with algae. “Grounding” (i.e., walking barefoot and/or sleeping on a sheet or mat that is connected to ground with wire) will significantly improve your health." ``` Oz is about ratings, not quality medicine. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2013, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-oz-promotion-of-quackery/665695/23 "2013-08-08T22:58:11Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > There is a certain mindset that believes everything they are told, and are offended if you question their beliefs. This is why religion has been given such a pass for so long; it is considered impolite to question.\ That doesn’t make me feel any better. ☹ > [@Motorgirl](#): > > I have a friend who is planning to follow some lose-24-pounds-in-24-days diet she saw on Dr. Oz. It involves a couple of different supplements. When I suggested that losing 24 pounds in 24 days was not healthy, she was a bit defensive and her response was basically “what could it hurt? If it doesn’t work, it doesn’t work.” To which I responded that if it does or doesn’t work, it could hurt _her_. She was not open to discussing it further. It’s another in a series of decisions she’s made that make me question her intelligence and critical thinking skills. Sigh. Was it [the Garcinia cambogia diet?](http://blogs.vancouversun.com/2013/06/13/the-truth-about-garcinia-cambogia-hydroxycitric-acid-and-dr-oz/) > [@LawMonkey](#): > > \ > The troubling thing, as I’ve learned from listening to QuackCast, is that this sort of drivel isn’t properly ostracized by the medical community… That is kind of surprising, but the medical community sometimes makes interesting decisions for interesting reasons. If I went to my doctor and wanted something that I had seen on Dr. Oz, my doctor would probably say go ahead if she didn’t think it would actually harm me. She probably wouldn’t chastise me for watching that show and getting stupid ideas from it. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2013, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-oz-promotion-of-quackery/665695/24 "2013-08-08T23:14:49Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > Dr. Oz took a blowtorch to his reputation long ago by [embracing ridiculous woo](http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/dr-oz-once-the-learner-now-the-master-of-woo/). After reading that, I’d say that Dr. Oz is basically a faith-healer at heart, but instead of invoking Jesus Christ as his power, credits (wrongly) what he calls “science” or impossible 5000 year-old fantasies of ignorant primitives. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2013, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-oz-promotion-of-quackery/665695/25 "2013-08-08T23:27:21Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > And many woo practitioners will use _everything_ to cure some disease, including conventional therapy (that’s “Integrative Medicine”). It makes it impossible to tell which one did the trick, if any, but it also allows them to pick the one they want to give credit to without being contradicted. So you used shark cartilage, laetrile, bicarbonate of soda, vitamin O and chemotherapy, and got better? Must have been the bicarb. To give another example of this tactic, the following is from the [Gorski Dr. Oz article](http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/dr-oz-once-the-learner-now-the-master-of-woo/) previously cited: > [@](#): > > Like all such patients who are lucky enough to be outliers and who chose “alternative” medicine, Dr. Kane underwent conventional therapy and Dr. Nemeh’s quackery, after which she did better than predicted and–of course!–attributed her much better than expected outcome to the faith healing. ---
**Author:** ![Motorgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@Motorgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Motorgirl)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2013, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-oz-promotion-of-quackery/665695/26 "2013-08-08T23:58:38Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > Was it [the Garcinia cambogia diet?](http://blogs.vancouversun.com/2013/06/13/the-truth-about-garcinia-cambogia-hydroxycitric-acid-and-dr-oz/) That sounds right. Sigh again. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2013, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-oz-promotion-of-quackery/665695/27 "2013-08-09T02:07:33Z")
> [@Condescending\_Robot](#): > > He owes his career to Oprah, who owes her career to dim bulbs. She’s been the most dangerous person in America for a long time, peddling this abjectly harmful nonsense to her audience. I don’t know if he really believes in psychics, but he damn sure really believes in the $4 million per year that he gets for peddling this garbage on one of Oprah’s shows. This, a thousand times over. I watched him on Oprah (yeah, I know), and he really did seem like he knew what he was talking about. But then they gave him a show of his own. How many times can you cover a 300-pound woman and her 400-pound husband, putting them before the Truthometer, or whatever the hell it is? How many weight-loss meals can you examine? How many exercises can you demonstrate? Eventually you’re gonna run out of legitimate segments, and there’s no place to go but woo. I love the part where he goes into the audience, and people give him a problem they’re having, and he gives them a 30-second diagnosis and cure. His show should be cancelled for that, if nothing else. I’m ashamed to say, I have his diet book. For $28, I learned that I should eat lean protein, fresh fruit and veggies (which I already knew) and get more exercise (which I already know). One good thing in his favor: He’s been promoting resveratrol. I’ve been taking it for a few years now, and it does seem to have a positive impact on my health issues. My doctor said “It probably won’t kill you.” 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Razncain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9d8465/32.png) [@Razncain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Razncain)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2013, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-oz-promotion-of-quackery/665695/28 "2013-08-09T02:40:05Z")
I wasn’t sure what the response would be to this thread, but I’m glad to see SDers express similar sentiments. I still figured there would probably be a few loyal followers come to his defense. It doesn’t seem like there are any real checks and balances in place. If laws are on the books for fraud and making certain health claims, they have one heck of a time enforcing them. Kevin Trudeau still manages to stay ahead of the law, at least thus far. [ABC’s “The Lookout” had him on their show](http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/business/2013/05/kevin-trudeau-chasing-the-dream-seller/) a few months ago, but had nine kinds of hell hunting him down. Bill Weir did a great job with that piece, I like his style. Watch that link if you haven’t already and check out how this guy lives. His time might be running out with the law, but he doesn’t seem worried about it. I figured the FTC could throw the whole book at him, but what I found weird is the 37 million dollar lawsuit filed against him was because Kevin said his diet was “easy” and they say he couldn’t say that. One thing that seems obvious to me is that he realizes he is selling shit, and truly is in it for the money. For Oz, he took a road he didn’t have to take. He already was a successful heart doctor. Others pointed out he is/was a professor at a college, so is it really money motivating him, and unlike Trudeau, does he really believe in this horseshit? ---
**Author:** ![Razncain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9d8465/32.png) [@Razncain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Razncain)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2013, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-oz-promotion-of-quackery/665695/29 "2013-08-15T02:03:14Z")
Short notice, but Kevin Trudeau is back on ABC’s Lookout tonight, and will give us an update. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2013, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-oz-promotion-of-quackery/665695/30 "2013-09-19T14:56:50Z")
> [@razncain](#): > > Kevin Trudeau still manages to stay ahead of the law, at least thus far. [Not anymore.](http://www.suntimes.com/news/22645111-418/infomercial-king-kevin-trudeau-thrown-in-jail-after-lavish-spending.html) ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2013, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-oz-promotion-of-quackery/665695/31 "2013-09-19T15:12:49Z")
> [@Lute Skywatcher](#): > > [Not anymore.](http://www.suntimes.com/news/22645111-418/infomercial-king-kevin-trudeau-thrown-in-jail-after-lavish-spending.html) > [@](#): > > Trudeau’s long-standing legal difficulties stem from his book, “The Weight-Loss Cure ‘They’ Don’t Want You to Know About,” which he falsely advertised as giving “easy” solutions to weight loss. > > If he ever pays the fine, the money will be shared among readers who bought the book. "One dollar and seven _cents_!! Bonus points to those who recognize this. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![slowlearner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@slowlearner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slowlearner)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2013, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-oz-promotion-of-quackery/665695/32 "2013-09-20T00:56:05Z")
Oz really took off after his appearance on Oprah when he set out a bunch of human stools on a table and analyzed(great word, that) them, shape and color tell us all about our health, a long s is the best, O admitted to dropping c’s, mostly, and he said those were good, too. What is it about our poop that leads us so innocently into quackery? That show was his final stepping stone to the odd career he now enjoys. ---
**Author:** ![August\_West](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/august_west/32/18069_2.png) [@August\_West](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/August_West)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2013, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-oz-promotion-of-quackery/665695/33 "2013-09-20T19:58:48Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > "One dollar and seven _cents_!! > Bonus points to those who recognize this. 😉 I got it, can I trade in my bonus points for a Thermos? Maybe one with vinyl and stripes…? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2013, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-oz-promotion-of-quackery/665695/34 "2013-09-20T20:13:22Z")
> [@August\_West](#): > > I got it, can I trade in my bonus points for a Thermos? Maybe one with vinyl and stripes…? Only if I pick it out for you. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2013, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-oz-promotion-of-quackery/665695/35 "2013-09-20T20:50:25Z")
By all accounts Oz is an excellent surgeon and is highly qualified in his field. But he’s apparently a credulous idiot as soon as he steps out of that field. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2013, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-oz-promotion-of-quackery/665695/36 "2013-09-21T15:00:19Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > By all accounts Oz is an excellent surgeon and is highly qualified in his field. But he’s apparently a credulous idiot as soon as he steps out of that field. The same can be said for many, many other physicians and scientists who achieve in their original fields, then morph into laughable jackasses who embrace woo, racist ideology, dodgy commercial enterprises etc. And it’s not only for money - some, like Oz apparently can’t resist being the center of attention. ---
**Author:** ![Dragwyr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dragwyr/32/2855_2.png) [@Dragwyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dragwyr)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2013, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-oz-promotion-of-quackery/665695/37 "2013-09-21T21:38:02Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > By all accounts Oz is an excellent surgeon and is highly qualified in his field. But he’s apparently a credulous idiot as soon as he steps out of that field. Oz may very well be qualified as a thoracic surgeon, but after all the BS he has promoted on his show, I wouldn’t trust him to even put a band-aid on me. He has lost all credibility with me. ---
**Author:** ![JackieLikesVariety](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackielikesvariety/32/296_2.png) [@JackieLikesVariety](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JackieLikesVariety)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2013, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-oz-promotion-of-quackery/665695/38 "2013-09-22T02:23:50Z")
I haven’t seen much of his show and it doesn’t sound like something I’d be interested in but I have read one of the “YOU” books he co-wrote - I thought it was good. [You Staying Young](http://www.amazon.com/You-Staying-Extending-Warranty-ebook/dp/B000UZNS36/ref=pd_sim_kstore_1) ---
**Author:** ![flight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bbce88/32.png) [@flight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flight)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2013, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-oz-promotion-of-quackery/665695/39 "2013-09-22T04:09:13Z")
Dr Oz is a quack, [Dr Good](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_CfBLaREGYo)’s show, however, is chock full of sound advice. ---
**Author:** ![Nawth\_Chucka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2013, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-oz-promotion-of-quackery/665695/40 "2013-09-22T04:50:15Z")
I may have already said this, but the Dr. Oz show is a women’s magazine cover brought to life. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-oz-promotion-of-quackery/665695.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-oz-promotion-of-quackery/665695.md?page=3)