Guest Opinion: Oz misled his show's viewers, flip-flopped on abortion

Miracle. Magic. Revolutionary. Natural. New scientific research. Simple solution. These words all have two things in common. They are all words that are red flags for medical quackery. They are also words that have been used by Dr. Mehmet Oz to promote various products on his show.

A study in the British Medical Journal in 2014 looked at claims made on various medical shows. In Dr. Oz’s case, the study revealed that there was evidence to support only 46% of his claims. Only 33 % of his claims were supported by “believable or somewhat believable evidence.” Evidence contradicted 15% of his claims and no evidence could be found either pro or con for 39% of his claims. That means that more than 50% of the claims made on his show (from Jan. 11 to May 1, 2013) were not supported by evidence.

At a senate hearing in 2014, he was questioned about his claims regarding the benefits of green coffee bean extract. He stated, ”I’m not going to argue it would pass FDA muster if it were a drug seeking approval.” He noted that the items he promotes do not necessarily have scientific evidence. As an example, he argued that prayer has been promoted as a treatment for various conditions without proof that it works, but as noted by Senator Claire McCaskill, ”It’s hard to buy prayer.”

During that hearing, when asked by Senator Dean Heller whether or not he believed in the existence of a miracle pill that causes consumers to lose weight, Oz replied, “There’s not a pill that’s going to help you, long term lose weight without diet and exercise.” When he was asked directly “do you believe there is a magic weight loss cure out there,” His response was, “If you are selling something because it is magical, no.”

His spokesperson has said that “it is idiotic and preposterous to imply that he shared the same beliefs as every guest on his show.” If that is the case, why have them on the show? I have no problem with a scientific discussion addressing the pros and cons of a controversial treatment. However, if Oz disagrees with the sentiments being portrayed, as a physician, he is obligated to say so. His repeated failure to do so amounts to a blessing/endorsement for said treatments.

Oz said at the senate hearing that he wants to be a cheerleader for when people do not have hope. Providing hope to patients is a wonderful thing. Providing false hope by promoting products lacking evidence is another story entirely. And promoting false hope with an underlying profit motive is reprehensible and a discredit to our profession.

This was noted by 10 of his colleagues at Columbia who wrote a letter to the dean in 2015 requesting that his faculty appointment be removed. In that letter, they stated, “he has manifested an egregious lack of integrity by promoting quack treatments and cures in the interest of personal financial gain.” They also pointed out that “members of the public are being misled and endangered.” A physician’s first rule is to do no harm. Oz has failed at this.

Then there is the abortion debate. Oz’s statements raise a concern separate from the pro-life position of life begins at conception and the pro-choice position of a women’s right to choose. The issue is integrity.

In 2019 on a radio show interview Oz was asked about stringent abortion laws in Alabama. He said, “I am really worried about it” and “It’s a big time concern” He later added, “At a personal level, I wouldn’t want anyone in my family to have an abortion but I don’t want to interfere with everyone else’s stuff, cause it’s hard enough getting through life as it is.”

Three years later he says he's "strongly pro-life" and states, “I do believe life starts at conception, and I’ve said that multiple times...If life starts at conception, why do you care what age the heart starts beating at? It’s, you know, it’s still murder, if you were to terminate a child whether their heart’s beating or not.”

Abortion is a very emotionally charged issue and people have very strong opinions. I question how and why someone’s position would change so dramatically in such a short time. Might it have anything to do with running for office?

Further along this vein, although he has stated that abortion is murder, he does not want to criminalize doctors or women.

So does he think that abortion is a crime or not, or is he simply talking out of both sides of his mouth, to serve his political agenda. The lack of principle and the hypocrisy are stunning.

Maya Angelou once said, “When people show you who they are, believe them the first time.” Oz has shown us repeatedly who he is. We should believe him.

Dr. Mark Lopatin is a rheumatologist practicing in Willow Grove. He's also the immediate past chairman of the Montgomery County Medical Society and a member of the Association of Independent Doctors.

This article originally appeared on The Intelligencer: Guest Opinion: Oz misled his show's viewers, flip-flopped on abortion