Dr. Oz on the Hot Seat Over Bogus Weight Loss Pitches

TV’s Doctor Mehmet Oz came under fire with lawmakers on Tuesday, June 17, when he appeared before a Senate panel who wanted to know what the deal was with his frequent “miracle” weight loss claims. Senator Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) questioned the 54-year-old showman surgeon at a Commerce, Science and Transportation subcommittee hearing about, among other things, calling a product a “lightning in a bottle”. “I don’t get why you need to say this stuff, because you know it’s not true,” McCaskill said.

Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) chimed in, noting: “It’s a major problem when people are spending more and more money and they’re gaining more and more weight.”

Oz explained that he personally believes in the products he talks about. “I intensively study them,” he said, adding that he has even given his own family products that he believes in. “If you can lose a pound a week more than you would have lost by not using them, it jump-starts you and gets you going. I think it makes sense.”

Sen. McCaskill expressed her surprise and called his promos “something that gives people false hope.” But Dr. Oz was more interested in his right to use “flowery” language “that is exulting.” Otherwise, he said, he feels disenfranchised.

Dr. Oz also told the committee that his name has often been used to promote a product without his permission. As soon as his lawyers stop one huckster from doing it, another one pops up. Oz said that he came to the hearing because he wants to be part of the solution.

Sen. McCaskill said she would like to see Oz use his oratory skills in a more responsible fashion and Oz, who says he has never been paid a penny for product endorsement, said he is second-guessing everything that he says on his show these days.