Imagine this; you hear your doctor dispensing questionable advice that you know contradicts the latest science and demonstrably confuses two distinctly different topics. So, you call him on it.
What does he do?
He excuses himself from the exam room and sends in his lawyer to tell you everything is oaky and that his recommendations have been thoroughly researched by a phantom staff of "research professionals."
Just the other day a question appeared on Yahoo Answers that asked:
What is up with Mercury and Fish? If fish is so bad for people, why have Asian cultures eaten it for thousands of years with no negative impact? I love fish, it is great to lose weight and delicious. I am wondering why the government, and many others, are saying to limit our consumption of fish. If anybody knows the truth about what is going on please let me know.
Paging Dr. Oz...
Paging Dr. Oz...
February 1, 2010
Laurie Rich
Executive Producer
ZoCo Productions, LLC
VIA Email c/o Jackie Barth
Dear Ms. Rich,
I am writing to confirm receipt of my January 27th letter expressing concerns about serious scientific inaccuracies in Dr. Oz's January 26, 2010 segment on fish consumption and mercury.
If any of you saw the Dr. Oz Show (you know the Oprah TV doctor) on Tuesday you probably saw his segment on eating fish. Quite frankly we were surprised at just how off base Dr. Oz was on this one. Getting in bed with environmental activists to gin up a scare story is one thing but contradicting FDA advice, ignoring the American Heart Association's suggestions while confusing and conflating recreational fish studies with commercial consumption is beyond sloppy. Here's our letter to Oz's producer:
January 27, 2010
Laurie Rich
Executive Producer
Iron status biomarkers in iron deficient women consuming oily fish versus red meat diet
Last summer a study that showed some lean fish have more omega-6s than omega-3s resulted in headlines like “Farmed tilapia may be no better for you than a doughnut.”
When I think of The Economist I think of cerebral types who get it. But it looks like even highbrow intellectuals can demonstrate a poor judgment and even poorer execution when writing about seafood. The latest fish tale titled Hold The Sushi misses the mark so badly it's, quite frankly, disheartening.
The U.S. Geological Survey is releasing a study today that "Reveals Mercury Contamination in Fish Nationwide." And so it appears to be the case. No argument here. Nope. If that's what their study shows, I have no reason to doubt ‘em.
Remember a while back when actor Jeremy Piven bailed out on his Broadway contract and then claimed he had mercury poising from eating sushi? But he hadn't quite done his research for that role because if he had he would have found that there has never been a case of mercury toxicity in this country from the normal consumption of commercial seafood-oops.
Human health case study Jeremy Piven now appearing in peer-reviewed medical journals world wide... not so much.
