Wed Nov 20 13:02:15 UTC 2024: ## Trump Nominates Controversial TV Doctor Mehmet Oz to Lead Medicare and Medicaid
**Washington D.C.** – Donald Trump has nominated Dr. Mehmet Oz, the famed television personality and cardiothoracic surgeon, to lead the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). The appointment has sparked immediate controversy due to Oz’s history of promoting unproven medical treatments and alternative medicine.
Oz, known for his long-running Emmy-winning show, “The Dr. Oz Show,” gained widespread recognition but also faced criticism for endorsing pseudoscience, including miracle cures and the use of hydroxychloroquine to treat COVID-19. A 2014 British Medical Journal study found his medical recommendations were evidence-based only 46% of the time.
While Oz has advocated for universal healthcare coverage, a position typically associated with progressive politicians, his promotion of unproven remedies and alternative medicine has drawn sharp rebuke from public health experts. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) called the nomination “deeply disappointing,” citing Oz’s history of endorsing “alarming pseudoscience.” Lawrence Gostin, director of the O’Neill Institute, declared Oz “unfit” to lead CMS, labeling the nomination a “middle finger to science.”
Trump, however, praised Oz, claiming he is “the most qualified and capable Physician to Make America Healthy Again,” highlighting Oz’s popularity, particularly among women. Oz, who lost a Pennsylvania Senate race in 2022, has maintained his medical license despite ceasing surgical practice in 2018. This nomination follows Trump’s controversial appointment of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to a key health position, further fueling concerns about the direction of the administration’s healthcare policies. The appointment is expected to face significant opposition from Democrats and public health organizations.
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