In a recent social media spat, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, an influential Indian actress, found herself at the center of controversy following her health-related advice on Instagram. The popular actress shared a picture utilizing a nebulizer and urged her followers to consider it as a treatment option for viral infections before resorting to traditional medication. The post quickly caught the attention of Dr. Cyriac Abby Philips, commonly known as “The Liver Doc” on social media, who accused Samantha of spreading misleading information.
Dr. Philips, a prominent voice in the medical community known for debunking pseudoscience and promoting evidence-based medical practices, was not impressed by Samantha’s recommendations. In a staunch critique, he addressed her post, asserting, “In a rational and scientifically progressive society, this woman would be charged with endangering public health and fined or put behind bars. She needs help or a better advisor on her team.”
Dr. Philips elaborated further, illustrating how influential figures like Samantha Ruth Prabhu, who he deemed “health and science illiterate,” could potentially spread harmful misinformation. He captured significant attention with his tweet:
“Left: Influential Indian actress Ms. Samantha Ruth who is unfortunately a health and science illiterate advising millions of her followers to inhale hydrogen-peroxide to prevent and treat respiratory viral infections. Right: Scientific society, The Asthma and Allergy Foundation…”
His reprimand did not go unnoticed. Samantha responded swiftly with a lengthy post, explaining her stance and intentions. She wrote, “After trial and error, I found treatments that worked wonderfully for me, treatments that also cost a fraction of what I was spending on conventional healthcare.”
She acknowledged Dr. Philips’ expertise but criticized his harsh tone, stating, “A certain gentleman has attacked my post and my intentions with rather strong words. Said gentleman is a doctor too. I have no doubt that he knows more than I do, and I am quite sure his intentions were noble. It would have been kind and compassionate of him had he not been so provocative with his words, especially the bit where he suggests I should be thrown in prison. Never mind. I suppose it goes with the territory of being a celebrity.”
Samantha emphasized that her post was not for personal gain but merely to share a treatment option that had worked for her.
. “I posted as someone who needs medical treatments and not as a celebrity. And I certainly am not making any money from the post nor endorsing anyone. I was merely suggesting a treatment as an option after undergoing it myself, for others who may be looking for options because conventional medicine isn’t working for them. Especially more affordable options,” she detailed, subtly addressing Dr. Philips without formally naming him.
Unwavering in his critique, Dr. Philips retaliated with another long post. He admonished celebrity influencers for spreading pseudoscientific information, suggesting that they should “start unlearning and re-learning, develop critical thinking skills, disregard logical fallacies, and stand up for medical science instead of ‘playing victim’ of the same science that is helping you, and all of us, survive into the future. I won’t be commenting or debunking any of Samantha’s future endorsements of pseudoscientific, alternative, public-health-endangering posts because…”
Dr. Philips had also noted that Ms. Samantha Ruth Prabhu responded to his “provocative” criticism by playing the victim card and endorsing more alternative practices. He posted, “Ms. Samantha Ruth Prabhu has responded to my “provocative” criticism of her endorsement of unscientific, pseudoscientific and baseless alternative medicine therapies by playing the victim card and endorsing more alternative practices. Please note, she is a serial offender in…”
He concluded his post with a notable John Armstrong quote, “You can’t help people that don’t want to be helped.”
This dispute underscores the tension between celebrity influence and medical expertise in public health communication. While Samantha Ruth Prabhu argued for alternative, cost-effective treatments based on personal experience, Dr. Cyriac Abby Philips emphasized the necessity of grounding public health advice in scientific evidence. As social media continues to serve as a platform for widespread dissemination of information, the responsibility to ensure that this information adheres to scientifically proven practices becomes ever more critical, particularly where public health is concerned. The discourse between an acclaimed celebrity and a medical professional highlights the broader challenge of addressing misinformation in a digitally connected world.
