‘Jeopardy!’ Fans Call for Boycott After Dr. Oz Begins Hosting; Say He’s a Disgrace to Alex Trebek’s Legacy

Dr. Mehmet Oz, who has his own long-running health-focused TV talk show and millions of fans, has inspired people worldwide to get healthy. But a number of critics are using his latest gig — serving as a substitute host for Alex Trebek, who died in November from pancreatic cancer –  to point out when Dr. Oz has been wrong. Bad information is an issue many in the cancer community face.

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He’s being blasted over some of his medical recommendations in recent years, such as his endorsement of hydroxycloroquine as a treatment for COVID-19. The drug was also touted by then-President Donald Trump, but the Food and Drug Administration warned it was ineffective and could cause heart rhythm problems.

Critics spoke up on social media.

Dr. Oz is guest hosting Jeopardy. Categories will include:
1) Doctors Without Ethics
2) TV Surgeons Who Might Be Unlicensed
3) Physicians Your Nana Thinks Are Sexy
4) Attention Addicts Who Would Endorse Placebos
5) Malpractice Suits Waiting To Happen
6) Creepier Than Dr. Phil

Paul Rudnick (@PaulRudnickNY) March 22, 2021

Answer: Dr. Oz. Question: who's the worst possible pick for "Jeopardy" guest host?

Jeff Greenfield (@greenfield64) March 23, 2021

Some of the show's former contestants posted an open letter on site Medium last month to the show's producer.

"'Jeopardy!' is a show that values facts and knowledge," the letter reads. "Throughout his nearly two decades on television (Oz) has used his authority as a doctor to push harmful ideas onto the American public, in stark contrast with his oath to first do no harm."

Oz hasn't addressed the controversy on his Twitter feed, instead only urging fans to tune in.

How to Vet Medical Information

Dr. Oz' show is only one of many sources of medical advice delivered over via television, radio and the Internet, often from physicians who command large audiences and are considered trustworthy.

Experts advise viewers to be skeptical.

"Often on medical TV shows or talk shows information is unvalidated, funded by companies (who pay for advertising their products) or generalized in a way that doesn't make sense," says Dr. Heather Yeo, a colorectal surgeon at Weill-Cornell Medical Center in New York.

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She questioned Dr. Oz' "history of supporting medications and treatments that have not been validated by the medical community," but added, "he has done some good work, too."

When it comes to medical advice they see or read, Yeo urges patients to listen to their own doctors first to avoid false hope or misdiagnosing any symptoms they are having.

"It is okay to listen to the information, but they should be critical thinkers and know that medicine is not one size fits all," she said.

Even those close to the entertainment industry know better than to blindly follow medical advice from television shows.

Television is driven by the quest for high ratings and executives desperate to keep their jobs, which can conflict with the dispensing of sound medical advice, said Alex Ben Block, former editor of The Hollywood Reporter and TV Week and author of three books on the business of entertainment.

"It's like the medicine shows in the Old West. They are just interested in selling another bottle of patent medicine that doesn’t really have any medical value. The only value is to line their pockets with money," Block says.

Anyone watching TV for medical advice should be careful.

"Absolutely take it with a grain of salt," Block says.

Some medical experts on TV are knowledgeable and merit trust, but others may not be, so viewers should seek to validate what they hear. On so-called experts he said, "it's their opinion and you should be absolutely wary about that opinion."

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