Dr. Oz is full of it too

http://factually.gizmodo.com/doctors-ask-columbia-university-to-fire-dr-oz-because-1698227881/+kcampbelldollaghan

Dr. Oz is full of it. He peddles garbage advice on his garbage TV show. And that's not just my opinion. It's science! Science which tells us that Dr. Oz gives advice that's baseless or wrong about half the time. But now his peers in the medical community are speaking out.

Astoundingly, Dr. Oz is the vice chairman and professor of surgery at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. Which are prestigious positions at a prestigious institution. But should someone whose promotes ridiculous weight loss cures and anti-GMO hogwash really hold these positions? A new letter addressed to the dean of the medical school at Columbia University says no.

As Skepchick reports, a group of esteemed doctors have finally had enough. Their letter to Dr. Lee Goldman, the dean of the Columbia University medical school appears below.


Dear Dr. Goldman:

I am writing to you on behalf of myself and the undersigned colleagues below, all of whom are distinguished physicians.

We are surprised and dismayed that Columbia University's College of Physicians and Surgeons would permit Dr. Mehmet Oz to occupy a faculty appointment, let alone a senior administrative position in the Department of Surgery.

As described here and here, as well as in other publications, 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.

Thus, Dr. Oz is guilty of either outrageous conflicts of interest or flawed judgments about what constitutes appropriate medical treatments, or both. Whatever the nature of his pathology, members of the public are being misled and endangered, which makes Dr. Oz's presence on the faculty of a prestigious medical institution unacceptable.

The letter was signed by ten doctors from places like Stanford University, the American Council on Science and Health, and the University of California, San Diego. It's unclear how Dr. Goldman will respond, let alone whether he'll do so publicly. But at the very least this letter helps publicize the fact that Dr. Oz continues to peddle garbage.

You'd think that having to testify in front of Congress and admit that much of what you say on your show has no science to back it up would've done that already.