Skeptic Check: Dr. Oz

Big Picture Science

Dr. Oz’s personable and folky approach when talking about difficult health subjects has made him a trusted source for medical information. But some of the claims offered on The Doctor Oz Show are clearly questionable, such as the existence of miracle diet pills. Now the show is on hiatus so that “America’s Doctor” can run for the U.S. Senate.

In our regular look at critical thinking, Skeptic Check, we evaluate Mehmet Oz’s record on presenting evidence-based health and medical information in light of his running for Congress, where he would be empowered to influence health policy.

Guests:

• James McCormack – Professor in the faculty of pharmaceutical sciences at the University of British Columbia. His team’s study evaluating evidence presented on medical television shows was published in the BMJ (formerly British Medical Journal)
• Ian Ward – Contributing Editor at POLITICO Magazine, author of the article, “When Dr. Oz Went to the Senate”
• Timothy Caulfield – Canada Research Chair in Health Law and Policy at the University of Alberta

Featuring music by Dewey Dellay and Jun Miyake

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