From the archive

Are TV Doctors Killing Us?

September 24, 2013

Doc Close Up

I don’t watch a lot of television. As a matter of fact, I don’t have cable, or dish, or even rabbit ears.

Don’t get me wrong, we do have a big screen in the bedroom, but the only thing I have is Apple TV. The only time I use it is to watch a movie or a really good series, like Breaking Bad.

By the way, if you haven’t seen it yet, I’m jealous of you because you get to see it from the beginning and take the whole ride.

The only time I get to see what’s really happening in the world (beside using my computer) is when fans send me videos via Twitter or other social media.

Fruity Diet Advice

I saw one by Dr. Sanjay Gupta, a neurosurgeon who was once considered to become the next Surgeon General. I figured I’d give it look.

He was interviewing a young man on one of his widely popular CNN segments. The man happened to be a fruitarian.

I personally have nothing against fruitarians. I think it can be a perfectly fine diet if done correctly. But I did have a problem with this interview.

The guy being interviewed claimed to eat upwards of 30 pounds of fruit per day. In case you’re wondering, a 1,000-pound horse only eats about 19 to 20 pounds of vegetation a day.

Dr. Gupta sat there oohhing and ahhing like a school girl as his guest told tales of running the fastest marathons of his life and losing weight. Not once did Dr. Gupta challenge the guy’s claims of eating like a Budweiser Clydesdale.

A Few Raspberry Ketones  Shy of a Good Diet Plan

I feel the same way when the likes of Dr. Oz – who is a cardiothoracic surgeon – tells people in his popular afternoon show that they can lose weight by taking things like raspberry ketone-extract or green coffee bean extract.

The guy reminds me of a carnival barker. His show is run like a common infomercial, stealing the viewers’ good intentions by even having this stuff on the program.

Doc In A Box

Dr. Phil is no better. From what I understand about psychology, it can take a good doctor months or even years to figure out what’s wrong with a patient. Yet Dr. Phil can wrap it all up and put a bow on it in less than an hour. He sounds like a cheap Southern preacher.

I told you that to tell you this. Caveat emptor, which I believe means “Let the buyer beware.” We live in a world where doctors should be regulated. We trust them for the mere fact that they’re doctors. They go on air and flagrantly abuse their positions as medical professionals.

If you think I’m kidding, watch any of these shows until the end. Even they know they’re lying because each of these shows include a disclaimer, basically to legally cover their ass.

Do you listen to TV Docs?  Are YOU following their advice?

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