Major Controversies Surrounding Mehmet Oz: A Detailed Timeline

Controversies are a part of history. Explore the biggest scandals linked to Mehmet Oz.

Mehmet Cengiz Oz, prominently known as Dr. Oz, is an American figure notable as a television presenter, physician, author, and educator. More recently, he transitioned into government service and is the current administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), a role he has held since 2025. Oz's career spans media, medicine, and now public administration.

Sections (6)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals

1973: Roe v. Wade decision

In 2022, Oz announced that he supported overturning the 1973 Supreme Court Roe v. Wade decision and was against abortion, except for when the mother's life is in danger or in cases of rape or incest.

2003: Presentation Withdrawal and Ban

In 2003, Mehmet Oz was forced to withdraw a presentation on heart bypass surgery from the American Association for Thoracic Surgery conference and was banned from presenting or publishing work for two years.

2009: Pigasus Award

Oz was awarded the James Randi Educational Foundation's Pigasus Award in 2009 for his promotion of reiki. He defended his use of reiki for moral support in the operating room.

2012: Arrangement with Usana Health Sciences

In 2012, Mehmet Oz entered into an arrangement with Usana Health Sciences, a multi-level marketing dietary supplement manufacturer, and was paid over $50 million over five years to promote Usana products on his show.

2013: Evaluation of Recommendations on The Dr Oz Show

In early 2013, a study evaluated forty episodes of The Dr Oz Show, determining that evidence supported 46 percent, contradicted 15 percent, and was not found for 39 percent of the recommendations. Unfounded claims included saying apple juice had unsafe levels of arsenic and cell phones could cause breast cancer.

2014: Study on Medical Talk Shows

A 2014 study published in the British Medical Journal found that medical talk shows such as The Dr. Oz Show and The Doctors often lack adequate information on the specific benefits or evidence of their claims.

Loading Video...

2014: Senate Hearing on Consumer Protection

During a 2014 Senate hearing on consumer protection, Senator Claire McCaskill criticized Mehmet Oz for airing segments on weight loss products that are later cited in advertisements and expressed concern that he was "melding medical advice, news, and entertainment in a way that harms consumers."

2015: Physicians Demand Removal from Faculty

In 2015, a group of 10 physicians demanded Columbia remove Mehmet Oz from the faculty for his alleged "disdain for science and for evidence-based medicine."

2019: Oz Supported Abortion Rights Before 2019

Before 2019, Mehmet Oz had supported abortion rights, although he said that he disliked abortion on "a personal level".

March 2020: Oz Suggests Hydroxychloroquine for COVID-19 Treatment

In March 2020, Mehmet Oz suggested that hydroxychloroquine could be used to treat COVID-19.

April 2020: Comments on Reopening Schools

In April 2020, Mehmet Oz appeared on Fox News and said that reopening schools might be worth the increased number of deaths it would cause, later apologizing for the comments.

April 2020: Promotes Hydroxychloroquine on Fox News

In April 2020, Mehmet Oz promoted the use of hydroxychloroquine as a cure for COVID-19 on more than 25 Fox News broadcasts.

May 2020: Trump Claims to Take Hydroxychloroquine

In May 2020, President Donald Trump claimed to be taking hydroxychloroquine, which Mehmet Oz had promoted as a potential cure for COVID-19.

June 2020: FDA Revokes Authorization of Hydroxychloroquine

In June 2020, the Food and Drug Administration revoked emergency use authorization of hydroxychloroquine, saying that it was "no longer reasonable to believe" that the drug was effective against COVID-19.

March 22, 2021: Guest Hosts Jeopardy!

Beginning on March 22, 2021, Mehmet Oz guest-hosted the trivia television game show Jeopardy! for two weeks, which was met with criticism.

Loading Video...

December 2021: Oz Faces 'Dual Loyalty' Charges

During his Republican primary campaign for Senate in December 2021, Mehmet Oz faced "dual loyalty" charges from critics, alleging he holds ties to Turkey's ruling Justice and Development Party.

March 2022: Oz Claims Carbon Dioxide is Not the Problem

During a March 2022 campaign event, Mehmet Oz claimed that carbon dioxide is "not the problem" regarding climate change.

May 2022: Oz Believes Life Starts at Conception

During a telephone town hall in May 2022, Mehmet Oz said: "I do believe life starts at conception... If life starts at conception, why do you care what stage our hearts starts beating at? It's, you know, it's still murder."

May 2022: Columbia Cuts Ties with Oz

In May 2022, Columbia University cut ties with Mehmet Oz and removed his presence from their website.

June 2022: Oz Relieved by Supreme Court's Decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization

In June 2022, Mehmet Oz said he was "relieved" by the Supreme Court's decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization.

August 2022: Oz Campaign Mocks Fetterman's Stroke Recovery

In late August 2022, the Oz campaign released a list of mock debate concessions for John Fetterman, and made a statement about Fetterman's stroke recovery, resulting in controversy.

October 2022: Oz Believes States Should Regulate Abortions

In October 2022, Mehmet Oz said that "women, doctors, local political leaders" should put "ideas forward so states can decide for themselves" how to regulate abortions, but also clarified that "I don't want the federal government involved with that, at all".

October 2022: Oz Would Potentially Support Death Penalty for Fentanyl Dealers

In an October 2022 interview, Mehmet Oz said that he would "potentially" support the death penalty for dealers of fentanyl.

2022: Oz Takes "Tough on China" Stance

In 2022, Mehmet Oz adopted a "tough on China" stance, mirroring the Trump wing of the Republican Party, and he criticized his rival David McCormick's business links to mainland China during his primary campaign.

2022: Oz Pressured to Recognize Armenian Genocide

In 2022, Mehmet Oz was pressured by members of the Armenian-American community to specifically recognize the Armenian genocide.

2022: Political Campaign on Presentation Withdrawal

In 2022, Mehmet Oz's political campaign addressed the 2003 incident regarding the withdrawal of his presentation, citing an extension of the work with more patients as the reason.

2022: Asked to Resign from Council

In 2022, President Joe Biden asked Mehmet Oz to resign from the President's Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition due to his Senate run, but Oz refused and was subsequently removed.

2022: Oz Changes Tone on Fauci

In 2022, while running for the Senate, Mehmet Oz changed his tone on Anthony Fauci and referred to him as a "tyrant".

2024: Accusation of Non-Disclosure

In 2024, Mehmet Oz was accused of not disclosing his role in the food supplement company iHerb, whose products he recommends.

January 2026: Civil Rights Complaint Filed Against Oz

In January 2026, a civil rights complaint against Mehmet Oz was filed by California government officials in reference to a video Oz posted accusing Armenian-owned businesses in Los Angeles of involvement with healthcare fraud.