Dr. Mehmet Oz has made numerous appearances on Fox News over the last month as its coronavirus expert of sorts. His comments have often been criticized, but this week one thing he said sparked an especially strong negative response. It was this remark on re-opening schools, with the caveat that many lives may be lost as a result:
“Well, first, we need our mojo back. Let’s start with things that are really critical to the nation where we think we might be able to open without getting into a lot of trouble. I tell you, schools are a very appetizing opportunity. I just saw a nice piece in The Lancet arguing that the opening of schools may only cost us 2 to 3 percent, in terms of total mortality. And, you know, any life is a life lost, but to get every child back into a school where they’re safely educated, being fed and making the most out of their lives, with a theoretical risk on the backside, it might be a trade-off some folks would consider.”
https://twitter.com/QasimRashid/status/1250854798380929026
After the comments garnered pushback, Dr. Oz took to social media with this message. It’s not an apology, but more like a clarification.
I’ve realized my comments on risks around opening schools have confused and upset people, which was never my intention. I misspoke. pic.twitter.com/Kq1utwiCjR
— Dr. Mehmet Oz (@DrOz) April 16, 2020
But The Washington Post points out this “was only one of dozens of pronouncements that Oz has offered on Fox since the advent of the coronavirus pandemic, during which the network has turned to him on a range of topics far outside his background as cardiothoracic surgeon.”
When should schools reopen? What drugs are effective against covid-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus? When will there be enough ventilators? Oz isn’t a virologist or a pharmacologist or a logistics expert, but he doesn’t hesitate in answering with the confidence of an expert, name-dropping corporations, elected officials and medical journals along the way.
There are reports that Dr. Oz has gotten the ear of the president as well. As News & Guts recently reported, “Oz grabbed Trump’s attention by pushing use of the drug by coronavirus patients during frequent appearances on the president’s favorite TV network, Fox News.”
So it looks like he gained a fan in Trump but may have lost the support of countless others in the process.
Dr. Oz is apologizing amid his "trade-off" statement backlash in regards to schools opening during the pandemic. @ReeveWill has the details. https://t.co/dVjoD0M0MG pic.twitter.com/hQ6iFCHHlB
— Good Morning America (@GMA) April 17, 2020
*This piece contains opinion and analysis