Dr. Oz Responds To Doctors Accusing Him Of Promoting 'Quack Treatments'

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Dr. Mehmet Oz on Friday defended himself against 10 doctors who accused him of promoting "quack treatments" on his TV show.

Oz said in a statement Friday that his show provides "multiple points of view" including his own.

He added that his own views are offered "without conflict of interest."

As CBS2's Christine Sloan reported, a group of 10 doctors sent a letter to Columbia University this week urging the university to remove Oz from its faculty. They accused Oz of an "egregious lack of integrity."

The lead author was Dr. Henry Miller, a senior research fellow at Stanford's Hoover Institution.

The doctors cited Oz's "egregious lack of integrity" for promoting what they call "quack treatments." The letter to Dr. Lee Goldman, Columbia dean of the Faculties of Health Sciences and Medicine, read in full:

"We are surprised and dismayed that Columbia University's College of Physicians and Surgeons would permit Dr. Mehmet Oz to occupy a faculty appointment, let alone a senior administrative position in the Department of Surgery.

"As described here and here, as well as in other publications, Dr. Oz has repeatedly shown disdain for science and for evidence-based medicine, as well as baseless and relentless opposition to the genetic engineering of food crops. Worst of all, he has manifested an egregious lack of integrity by promoting quack treatments and cures in the interest of personal gain."

"Thus, Dr. Oz is guilty of either outrageous conflicts of interest or flawed judgements about what constitutes appropriate medical treatments, or both. Whatever the nature of his pathology, members of the public are being misled and endangered, which makes Dr. Oz's presence on the faculty of a prestigious medical institution unacceptable."

Dr. Gilbert Ross, executive director and medical director of the American Council on Science and Health on the Upper West Side, said Dr. Oz's credentials are impeccable -- but he chooses to push unscientific weight loss gimmicks instead.

"It's not sexy enough for his show. Instead, he uses his podium to sensationalize things in order to get attention," Ross said. "It's almost like Walter Cronkite was, instead giving the evening news, he was telling you about publicity reports from TMZ."

Loyal viewers of Dr. Oz's show have no sympathy for the physicians who want him out.

"Jealousy," said Ira Landgraten of Hoboken.

"I follow him, you know, in sort of a vague way, and I think he is helpful," added Anne Hjelle of Hoboken. "He keeps the dialogue open to the public."

Dr. Oz defended himself before a House of Representatives hearing last year.

"I actually do personally believe in the items I talk about in the show. I passionately study them," Oz said at the time. "In an attempt to engage viewers, I use flowery language."

Columbia spokesman Doug Levy issued the following response to Dr. Miller and others:

"As I am sure you understand and appreciate, Columbia is committed to the principle of academic freedom and to upholding faculty members' freedom of expression for statements they make in public discussion."

Oz is vice chairman of Columbia's surgery department and still occasionally teaches. He also performs heart surgery at Columbia's affiliated hospital.

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