In a recent controversy, Dr. Cyriac Abby Philips, popularly known as The Liver Doc, found himself embroiled in a heated exchange with Tollywood actress Samantha Ruth Prabhu. The incident, which began with Dr. Philips criticizing Prabhu's health advisory, has now escalated into a broader critique of the Indian media's handling of the situation.
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The Incident
The controversy began when Samantha Ruth Prabhu posted a health advisory on her social media, recommending an alternative treatment for common viral infections. She suggested using a nebulizer with a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and distilled water, claiming it to be an effective remedy. This post quickly caught the attention of Dr. Philips, who strongly condemned the advice. He referred to Prabhu as "health illiterate" for promoting what he deemed a dangerous and unscientific method.
Dr. Philips took to social media to express his concerns. In a tweet, he said, "Influential Indian actress Ms. Samantha Ruth, who is unfortunately a health and science illiterate, advised millions of her followers to inhale hydrogen peroxide to prevent and treat respiratory viral infections." He further criticized the advice by contrasting it with scientific consensus, highlighting that reputable health organizations, such as The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, have warned against such practices.
Media Misrepresentation
Following this public disagreement, Indian media outlets quickly picked up the story. However, Dr. Philips later accused the media of misrepresenting his statements. In a follow-up tweet, he stated, "Indian media doing India media things. Misrepresentation and misinterpretation. Terrible times." He argued that the media had cherry-picked parts of his statements, which led to a distorted portrayal of his critique and intentions.
Dr. Philips shared screenshots of a report in a leading website , which he claimed had inaccurately summarized his statements. He reiterated his stance, asserting that his primary concern was the potential public health risk posed by Prabhu's advisory.
Public Reaction and Clarifications
The public reaction to the incident has been mixed. Some social media users accused Prabhu of engaging in a publicity stunt. One user tweeted, "This is a paid PR stunt of Samantha to get the mileage." Dr. Philips responded to this comment by acknowledging that the media had selectively highlighted certain aspects of his critique, which contributed to the perception of the incident as a PR stunt
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