Major Controversies Surrounding Deepak Chopra: A Detailed Timeline

Controversies are a part of history. Explore the biggest scandals linked to Deepak Chopra.

Deepak Chopra is an Indian-American author and a prominent figure in the New Age movement, known for advocating alternative medicine and a holistic approach to well-being. A physician by education, he gained popularity in the 1990s by promoting practices such as yoga, meditation, and nutrition, alongside other new-age therapies. His books and videos have established him as a well-known and wealthy figure in the realm of alternative medicine.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Controversies & Scandals

May 1991: JAMA Article on Ayurvedic Medicine

In May 1991, the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) published an article by Deepak Chopra and others on Ayurvedic medicine. An erratum was later issued, citing undisclosed financial interests of the lead author.

March 1993: Defamation Lawsuit Dismissal

In March 1993, Deepak Chopra and two TM groups' defamation lawsuit against Andrew A. Skolnick and JAMA was dismissed. The lawsuit sought damages related to criticism of their JAMA article on Ayurvedic medicine.

1993: Copyright Infringement Lawsuit

In 1993, Deepak Chopra was sued for copyright infringement by Robert Sapolsky for using text and a table from Sapolsky's work without proper attribution in his book Ageless Body, Timeless Mind. An out-of-court settlement resulted in Chopra correctly attributing the material.

1998: Ig Nobel Prize

In 1998, Deepak Chopra was awarded the satirical Ig Nobel Prize in physics for his "unique interpretation of quantum physics as it applies to life, liberty, and the pursuit of economic happiness".

2000: Use of Ayurveda for AIDS Patients

In 2000, Deepak Chopra stated that his AIDS patients were combining mainstream medicine with Ayurvedic practices such as herbs, meditation, and yoga. Chopra acknowledged that AIDS is caused by the HIV virus, suggesting that the virus mistakes DNA for a friendly sound, which Ayurveda can correct.

2001: ABC News Segment on Distance Healing and Prayer

In 2001, ABC News aired a segment on distance healing and prayer, featuring Deepak Chopra claiming the ability to influence others from a distance using mental powers. He was shown attempting to relax a person in another room, with vital signs recorded. The segment was criticized for presenting "bad medicine as exciting news."

August 2005: Articles on Creation-Evolution Controversy

In August 2005, Deepak Chopra wrote a series of articles on the creation–evolution controversy and Intelligent design, which were criticized by Michael Shermer.

2007: Quantum as a Metaphor

In 2007, Deepak Chopra said in an interview with Richard Dawkins, that he used the term quantum as a metaphor when discussing healing and that it had little to do with quantum theory in physics.

2008: Magnet for Criticism

In 2008, Time magazine commented that Deepak Chopra was a "magnet for criticism" for most of his career, with opinions ranging from the "dismissive" to the "outright damning".

March 2010: Debate on God

In March 2010, Deepak Chopra and Jean Houston debated Sam Harris and Michael Shermer at the California Institute of Technology on the question "Does God Have a Future?". Shermer and Harris criticized Chopra's use of scientific terminology to expound unrelated spiritual concepts.

April 2010: Criticism from Hindu American Foundation

In April 2010, Aseem Shukla, co-founder of the Hindu American Foundation, criticized Deepak Chopra for suggesting that yoga did not originate in Hinduism but in an older Indian spiritual tradition. Chopra responded that yoga was rooted in consciousness alone, pre-dating historic Hinduism.

2010: Debate on "Does God Have a Future?"

In 2010, Deepak Chopra and Jean Houston debated Sam Harris and Michael Shermer on the question "Does God Have a Future?". Harris argued that Chopra's use of "spooky physics" merges two language games in an unprincipled way.

2010: Definition of Pseudoscience

In 2010, Michael Shermer said that Deepak Chopra is "the very definition of what we mean by pseudoscience".

2013: Criticism of Skepticism on Wikipedia

In 2013, Deepak Chopra published an article criticizing what he saw as "skepticism" on Wikipedia, arguing that a "stubborn band of militant skeptics" were editing articles to prevent a fair representation of certain views. Jerry Coyne responded, saying Chopra's views were being "exposed as a lot of scientifically-sounding psychobabble".

2013: Controversial New Age Guru

In 2013, The New York Times described Deepak Chopra as "the controversial New Age guru and booster of alternative medicine".

2015: Criticism of Ayurvedic Remedies

In 2015, Harriet Hall criticized Deepak Chopra for his promotion of Ayurveda, stating that studies showed a high percentage of Ayurvedic remedies are contaminated with heavy metals. A study of users in the United States found elevated blood lead levels in a large percentage of those tested.

2015: Pseudo-profound Bullshit

In 2015, a paper examining "the reception and detection of pseudo-profound bullshit" used Deepak Chopra's Twitter feed as a canonical example, comparing it with fake quotes from a spoof website.