Donald Trump’s publicly available medical records, as of today, consist of a note from an exquisitely quaffed gastroenterologist (pictured below) describing the Republican nominee as being in “astonishingly excellent” health, and potentially “the healthiest individual ever elected to the presidency.”
This is Donald Trump's doctor, Dr. Harold Bornstein. I really don't have anything more to add. pic.twitter.com/dP7AQTvGqd
— Peculiar Baptist (@PeculiarBaptist) August 29, 2016
In the wake of Hillary Clinton’s health scare over the weekend, Trump has decided to be more forthcoming about his own health by unveiling the results of a recent physical examination on an episode of The Dr. Oz Show on Thursday. The show’s host, celebrity heart surgeon and “alternative medicine” advocate Mehmet Oz, is one of the most controversial physicians in America. Here are a look at some of his most dubious escapades.
Apple Juice
Dr. Oz was denounced by leading physicians as “extremely irresponsible” in 2011 after doing a show purporting to prove that apple juice might be unsafe to drink because it contains unhealthy levels of arsenic. The Food and Drug Administration was forced to issue a statement insisting “there is no evidence of any public health risk” from drinking apple juice.
Ebola
Oz was widely criticized in 2014 for suggesting that the Ebola virus could become “airborne,” a scenario that most health experts believe was extremely unlikely to occur, or basically impossible.
“Ex-Gay” Therapy
Earlier this year, gay rights groups denounced Oz for airing a show debating the merits of reparative “ex-gay” therapy, a procedure intended to change an individual’s sexual orientation.
Green Coffee Bean Extract
After Oz promoted the “miracle” weight loss supplement on his show, federal regulators discovered that key aspects of a study purporting to show the benefits of green coffee bean extract was “so hopelessly flawed that no reliable conclusions could be drawn from it.”
Vaccinations
Dr. Oz was widely criticized for not getting his children vaccinated because, although he personally supports vaccines, his wife does not. “When I go home I’m not Dr. Oz, I’m Mr. Oz,” he explained.
“Energy Medicine”
Oz has been “honored” on several occasion by the James Randi Educational Foundation with a Pigasus Award for promoting medical “nonsense,” such as faith healing and “energy medicine.”
Columbia University
Oz’s official position at Columbia University’s medical school has come under increasing scrutiny. In 2015, a group of doctor’s sent a letter to the school’s dean arguing that the institution’s formal affiliation with Dr. Oz was “unacceptable.”
TAKE THE POLL
