Dr. Oz

I recently saw a cartoon in a magazine targeted to physicians: an older male doctor is speaking to a middle-age woman. On the wall is a poster, “Please don’t tell me what Dr. Oz said.”

My colleagues find the cartoon to be apt. Let’s skip the stereotypes: older male doctor, middle age female patient, and get to the point. Those of us actually treating patients practice in a different world than that of Dr. Oz and his boss, Oprah.  Dr. Oz is fortunate that he is able to buy the freshest, most exotic food stuffs and prepare them in an ecologic sensitive manner. There is plenty of time to exercise. There is no need to discuss Oprah – she truly has unlimited resources to maintain health.

However, this is not my biggest complaint about Dr. Oz. He is a well-trained surgeon and generally ‘gets’ the big picture about health. He tries to educate his television audience. What he does not do is choose his words carefully; I cringe when he goes off-script. When discussing a medical topic, he makes a casual statement (every woman should be tested for xxxx) that has a kernel of truth but is terribly incorrect.  Patients will come to the office requesting unusual, inappropriate, unavailable tests and are disappointed when their doctors are not quick to order those unusual, inappropriate and/or unavailable tests. Precious office time is spent discussing why Dr. Oz’s recommendations and why they are not a good idea.

Very few people have the resources of Dr. Oz and even fewer the wealth of Oprah. Rather than give blanket recommendation or glib opinions, I would rather see a less casual and more scientifically focused program. Perhaps Dr. Oz should watch Dr. Nancy Snyderman on NBC.