BREAKING: Dr. Mehmet Oz has ignited a firestorm of controversy with his comments regarding rural health care, stating that AI avatars could replace doctors in underserved areas. These remarks were made on October 16, 2023, during an event for the “Action for Progress” initiative, which focuses on mental health and addiction, alongside Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr..
Oz’s comments come amid significant cuts to funding for rural hospitals by the Trump administration, which has left many facilities struggling with severe understaffing. “There’s no question about it, whether you want it or not … the best way to help some of these communities is gonna be AI-based avatars,” Oz declared, prompting immediate backlash online.
Critics are condemning Oz’s proposal as a misguided and harmful solution. Writer Aaron Apollo Camp labeled Oz as “absolutely evil,” accusing him of targeting the Armenian-American community and promoting what he described as “AI medical quackery.” Others echoed this sentiment, with public health professional Justin Gero arguing that empowering nurse practitioners could yield more immediate benefits than relying on “chat bot docs.”
The outrage continued on social media, with users drawing parallels to past controversial comments made by politicians regarding education and technology in rural communities. “This is a bit like the time Betsy DeVos said rural kids ‘in one of the Dakotas’ could do their English Lit classes from listening to Great Books online while driving their tractors,” commented former Congressional candidate Josh Cowen.
The discussion around Oz’s remarks highlights the critical issues facing rural health care today. As funding decreases and facilities struggle to maintain staffing levels, the idea of replacing human practitioners with technology raises urgent concerns about the quality of care in these communities.
As this situation unfolds, the implications of Oz’s comments will likely resonate further. Advocates for rural health care are calling for a reevaluation of strategies that prioritize real human resources over potentially harmful technological alternatives.
Stay tuned for more updates as reactions continue to pour in regarding this contentious topic.
