# Is Dr. Oz a Quack? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 16, 2011, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-dr-oz-a-quack/582107 "2011-05-16T17:06:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**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:** [May 17, 2011, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-dr-oz-a-quack/582107/21 "2011-05-17T04:12:38Z")
> [@psychobunny](#): > > \ > Overall, Oprah has a horrendous track record with her medical “experts”. She apparently does not vet them at all. > For example: > > Dr. Jan Adams-\ > “Dr. Phil” - \ Jenny McCarthy (I’d put a smiley after that, except I don’t consider what she’s responsible for funny in any way). ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2011, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-dr-oz-a-quack/582107/22 "2011-05-17T04:14:30Z")
I dunno about ‘quack’ but I saw a segment where he basically said that you should have infant boys circumcised because it prevents all sorts of diseases, problems with the foreskin and is medically necessary. Where I’m living, the insurer (Alberta Health) has now deinsured the procedure and indicates that it’s ‘not medically necessary.’ I found his statements absurd. Further, he tends be obsessed with bacteria everywhere. I remember one segment where he suggested that women should wash their makeup brushes _every day_. Good grief - a good make up brush is $100 - if you washed it daily it would be bald in about 6 months instead of lasting 20 years like they’re supposed do. Unless a woman has an active skin infection (in which case she probably shouldn’t be wearing make up) or has very bad acne (ditto) or shares her brushes with random people (ew) washing them every 3 months or so is perfectly fine. Good grief - there’s more bacteria growing in your cosmetics daily than would grow on the frikin’ brush - talk about over kill. ---
**Author:** ![horsetech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dec6dc/32.png) [@horsetech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/horsetech)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2011, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-dr-oz-a-quack/582107/23 "2011-05-17T05:43:29Z")
> [@Stoid](#): > > Where do you get that? As recently as October of last year he was still performing [surgery](http://njmonthly.com/articles/lifestyle/people/the-doctor-is-in.html) one day a week. I think psychobunny means “medical patient” as in internal medicine (which encompasses many things including primary and preventative care), as opposed to surgery. ---
**Author:** ![Sarahfeena](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sarahfeena/32/519_2.png) [@Sarahfeena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarahfeena)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2011, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-dr-oz-a-quack/582107/24 "2011-05-17T12:47:46Z")
> [@horsetech](#): > > I think psychobunny means “medical patient” as in internal medicine (which encompasses many things including primary and preventative care), as opposed to surgery. Yes. That’s one of the problems I have with him, and I agree completely with **psychobunny**. I understand he is an excellent surgeon, but his field is highly specialized, and I don’t know if he should be giving out the kind of general medical advice that he does, given that internal medicine is not his area of expertise. And I am very very wary of anyone who would endorse alternative therapies such as Reiki. Very wary. I admire Oprah for many things, but I think it’s shameful the way she promotes junk science and quack medicine on her show. ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2011, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-dr-oz-a-quack/582107/25 "2011-05-17T12:53:26Z")
He pinged my quack-o-meter when he sat next to Jenny McCarthy on one of Oprah’s shows while she went off about vaccinations and how they cause autism, and HE DIDN’T SAY A DAMNED THING. But then this happened: > [@muldoonthief](#): > > He had [John Edward](http://www.tvguide.com/News/Dr-Oz-Says-1030667.aspx). on a few months ago to teach people how to unlock their psychic power. He said it “changed my life.” In my mind that makes him an utter & dangerous quack. Now my quack-o-meter is broken. ---
**Author:** ![Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/bc8723/32.png) [@Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unauthorized_Cinnamon)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2011, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-dr-oz-a-quack/582107/26 "2011-05-17T13:02:53Z")
> [@alice\_in\_wonderland](#): > > Further, he tends be obsessed with bacteria everywhere. I remember one segment where he suggested that women should wash their makeup brushes _every day_. Good grief - a good make up brush is $100 - if you washed it daily it would be bald in about 6 months instead of lasting 20 years like they’re supposed do. Unless a woman has an active skin infection (in which case she probably shouldn’t be wearing make up) or has very bad acne (ditto) or shares her brushes with random people (ew) washing them every 3 months or so is perfectly fine. Good grief - there’s more bacteria growing in your cosmetics daily than would grow on the frikin’ brush - talk about over kill. This is a great example of how he has embraced the formula of Oprah-ish infotainment. From the stuff I’m forced to endure at the gym, it seems that there are two main things the daytime talk shows peddle: gossip and fear (OK, three things - makeovers). I don’t know if the housewife demographic is actually drawn to fearmongering, or if you just need to flog the terror to make them (us) buy the Clorox products and such that pay your bills, but it’s ridiculous. I’m a pretty over-the-top germophobe, and even I think their scare segments on these things are ridiculous. ---
**Author:** ![Sparky812](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Sparky812](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sparky812)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2011, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-dr-oz-a-quack/582107/27 "2011-05-17T13:29:30Z")
I don’t think he is a quack per se, but all those freakin fear-mongering “doctor” shows are really getting on my nerves. My wife is home on maternity leave, so everyday I get a lecture on how my favorite foods that are bad for me, or how I’m brushing my teeth wrong, or why I should drink green tea, etc… ---
**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:** [May 17, 2011, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-dr-oz-a-quack/582107/28 "2011-05-17T20:21:32Z")
I’m at or near saturation with fear-mongering about food and vitamins and stuff - I’m going to eat what I want when I want in moderation, and call it good. ---
**Author:** ![cruzau](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@cruzau](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cruzau)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2011, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-dr-oz-a-quack/582107/29 "2011-09-21T01:28:39Z")
Anyone worth their salt working in the health care profession can see that he is an absolute phony! His ideas regarding immunization schedules and diets are best left to experts such as public health nurses and registered dieticians. He makes me cringe with his so-called advice. Its almost criminal because people have a hard enough time trying to sort legitimate health information from crap without his crazy rantings. -\>RN and Public Health Nurse ---
**Author:** ![cordylus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dc4da7/32.png) [@cordylus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cordylus)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2011, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-dr-oz-a-quack/582107/30 "2011-09-21T02:11:43Z")
My vote is for quack. There is a really interesting segment on the skeptics guide to the universe podcast where Dr. Novella (he’s the skeptic in the video in the OP) discusses his appearance on the Dr. Oz show. I’m actually surprised nobody else mentioned it yet. I figured the dope would be crawling with SGU fans. [Link](http://www.theskepticsguide.org/archive/podcastinfo.aspx?mid=1&pid=302) ---
**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:** [September 21, 2011, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-dr-oz-a-quack/582107/31 "2011-09-21T04:06:37Z")
I was thinking about this thread after hearing about [Dr. Oz declaring apple juice contains dangerous levels of arsenic.](http://calgary.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20110914/fda-apple-juice-oz-110914/20110914/?hub=CalgaryHome) I like the FDA’s response to him: > [@](#): > > the FDA essentially says that yes, there is some arsenic in apple juice, but most of it occurs naturally and the amounts are perfectly safe…The FDA goes on to say that it believes that it would be “irresponsible and misleading” for “The Dr. Oz Show” to suggest that apple juice contains unsafe amounts of arsenic based solely on tests for total arsenic. Isn’t there enough actual news and problems in the health world that he doesn’t have to make shit up? ---
**Author:** ![Alan\_Smithee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/2acd7d/32.png) [@Alan\_Smithee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alan_Smithee)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2011, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-dr-oz-a-quack/582107/32 "2011-09-21T04:45:01Z")
So basically, the verdict is that he’s fine of you need someone to do surgery on your heart, but you should keep him away from your BRAAAAINS!!! ---
**Author:** ![cerberus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@cerberus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cerberus)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2011, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-dr-oz-a-quack/582107/33 "2011-09-21T05:15:07Z")
More like this: if you need cardiothoracic surgery, stick with someone who spends most of his or her time actually working full time in that area. Which means that he is spending most of his time advocating areas of medicine or science in which he has neither training nor certification. And he does so posing as an expert, with his basic MD, with no actual credentials in nutrition or preventive medicine. Even though he’s perfectly capable of earning them. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2011, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-dr-oz-a-quack/582107/34 "2011-09-21T05:50:13Z")
[http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=2&ved=0CC0QFjAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sciencebasedmedicine.org%2Findex.php%2Ffor-shame-dr-oz%2F&ei=xnp5TrqcI8SBtgfr65DxDw&usg=AFQjCNFtEYsBPth-D5RkApp9VMq6WU6xjg](http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=2&ved=0CC0QFjAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sciencebasedmedicine.org%2Findex.php%2Ffor-shame-dr-oz%2F&ei=xnp5TrqcI8SBtgfr65DxDw&usg=AFQjCNFtEYsBPth-D5RkApp9VMq6WU6xjg) I don’t know how anyone can be anything but a quack who embraces the likes of Dr. Joseph Mercola. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2011, 8:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-dr-oz-a-quack/582107/35 "2011-09-21T08:49:05Z")
> [@cerberus](#): > > More like this: if you need cardiothoracic surgery, stick with someone who spends most of his or her time actually working full time in that area. > > Which means that he is spending most of his time advocating areas of medicine or science in which he has neither training nor certification. And he does so posing as an expert, with his basic MD, with no actual credentials in > nutrition or preventive medicine. Even though he’s perfectly capable of earning them. And that is why I would call him a quack, even though he’s a real doctor. ---
**Author:** ![medicated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@medicated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/medicated)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2011, 10:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-dr-oz-a-quack/582107/36 "2011-09-21T10:39:16Z")
> [@cordylus](#): > > My vote is for quack. There is a really interesting segment on the skeptics guide to the universe podcast where Dr. Novella (he’s the skeptic in the video in the OP) discusses his appearance on the Dr. Oz show. I’m actually surprised nobody else mentioned it yet. I figured the dope would be crawling with SGU fans. > > [Link](http://www.theskepticsguide.org/archive/podcastinfo.aspx?mid=1&pid=302) Actually, I was just about to mention it. Curses and drat! Anyway, undoubtedly a quack. By all accounts he’s a very good surgeon, but so what? There’s no shortage of experts out there who step way outside of their fields and forget that expertise in one area is not expertise in all areas. I’ll trust him when he speaks about (say) fixing an aorta, but when he talks about so-called alternative medicine he quacks loudly enough that it hurts my ears. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2011, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-dr-oz-a-quack/582107/37 "2011-09-21T12:24:42Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > Is Dr. Oz a Quack? The phrase you are looking for my dear is “media whore.” 😉 I am friends with a physician colleague of his - he has the reputation of being an excellent surgeon and clincian. But his actions - and write ups I read in The New Yorker and other sources - make it pretty clear that he will do anything to get in front of a camera. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2011, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-dr-oz-a-quack/582107/38 "2011-09-21T14:32:52Z")
> [@SenorBeef](#): > > Undoubtedly a quack. He promotes shit that he knows doesn’t work because Oprah pushes all her minions to embrace quack bullshit. > > He’s not a complete quack since he’s actually a doctor and on non-quack issues might give solid advice - but that actually makes him more dangerous. To have him giving good advice and being an actual medical expert makes people assume that when he talks about stuff he knows he’s bullshit that it’s legit too. He’s scum, part of the Oprah sphere of retarded fuckery promoting all sorts of psuedoscientific garbage. Oh God yes. Sometimes I wonder how much “societal damage” Oprah’s caused over her career. IMO Dr. Oz has fallen to what lots of smart, successful people do, particularly when they get famous. Because they are pretty smart/talented/successful they often get this idea that this applies to anything they do/try/think about. Which, if you think about it is pretty damn stupid, because it usually take a person years of hard work/education/training/blood sweat and tears to become “great” at just their special “thing”. And then, all of a sudden, they believe they have the answer to some other complex problem that they have maybe done a few evenings reading and thinking about. ---
**Author:** ![sparky\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@sparky\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sparky_1)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2011, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-dr-oz-a-quack/582107/39 "2011-09-21T16:05:12Z")
> [@cordylus](#): > > My vote is for quack. There is a really interesting segment on the skeptics guide to the universe podcast where Dr. Novella (he’s the skeptic in the video in the OP) discusses his appearance on the Dr. Oz show. I’m actually surprised nobody else mentioned it yet. I figured the dope would be crawling with SGU fans. > > [Link](http://www.theskepticsguide.org/archive/podcastinfo.aspx?mid=1&pid=302) I started reading this thread in order to mention that! SGU is a really great podcast. ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2011, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-dr-oz-a-quack/582107/40 "2011-09-21T17:14:10Z")
I don’t think he is a quack. I just think that there isn’t sufficient material to make an interesting daily show. With boredom comes craziness. Look at all the 24/7 news stations. Without something catastrophic to cover, such as a tsunami, there just aren’t enough interesting stories to fill up that much air time. Enter the craziness. Next thing you know 15 programming hours per week is dedicated to the Tot Mom murder trial. Dr. Oz would probably put on a great show if it was made into a bi-weekly or monthly program. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-dr-oz-a-quack/582107.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-dr-oz-a-quack/582107.md?page=3)