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Actor Samantha Ruth Prabhu has responded to the medical influencer TheLiverDoc’s recent social media post questioning the alternative medical procedures that she was endorsing, and suggesting that she could’ve been jailed for making such claims in a ‘rational and progressive society’. In his post, TheLiverDoc described her as ‘health and science illiterate’, and in her response, Samantha said that she was merely suggesting options to those who might not be able to afford expensive treatment.
She wrote in a note shared on Instagram that she landed on treatments that ‘worked wonderfully’ for her after lots of ‘trial and error’. Samantha wrote that she doesn’t doubt TheLiverDoc’s medical credentials, but would’ve expected him to put his point across kindly rather than calling for her to be ‘thrown into prison’. She wrote that her treatment was suggested by a medical professional with over 25 years’ experience, who ‘chose to advocate alternative therapy’ after leaving behind his education in ‘conventional medicine’.
Also read – Samantha Ruth Prabhu says she was forced to reveal myositis diagnosis: ‘People called me sympathy queen’
In her original post, Samantha had endorsed nebulizing hydrogen peroxide and distilled water as an alternative treatment for viral infections. “Avoid unnecessary use of medicines,” she had written. TheLiverDoc responded to this post by writing on X, “Left: Influential Indian actress Ms. Samantha Ruth who is unfortunately a health and science illiterate advising millions of her followers to inhale hydrogen-peroxide to prevent and treat respiratory viral infections. Right: Scientific society, The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, warning people to not nebulize and breathe in hydrogen peroxide because it is dangerous for health. In a rational and scientifically progressive society, this woman will be charged with endangering public health and fined or put behind bars. She needs help or a better advisor in her team. Will India’s Health Ministry or any health regulatory body do something about these social media health influenzas damaging public health or will they remain spineless and let people die?”
Left: Influential Indian actress Ms. Samantha Ruth who is unfortunately a health and science illiterate advising millions of her followers to inhale hydrogen-peroxide to prevent and treat respiratory viral infections.
Right: Scientific society, The Asthma and Allergy Foundation… pic.twitter.com/Ihn2xocKUt
— TheLiverDoc (@theliverdr) July 4, 2024
Samantha concluded her statement by writing that a patient cannot ‘give up’ when conventional medicines stop working for them, and said that she will be ‘more careful’ about the medical advice that she shares henceforth.
Here’s Samantha’s full social media statement –
Over the last couple of years, I’ve had to take many different types of medicines. I’ve tried everything I was strongly advised to take. As advised by highly qualified professionals and after doing as much self research as is possible for a lay person like me.
Many of these treatments were also very very expensive. I would always keep thinking about how fortunate I am that I could afford it and about all those who cannot. And for the longest time, conventional treatments weren’t making me better. There’s a good chance it was just me and am sure they will work very well for others.
These two factors led me to also read up on alternate therapies and treatments. And after trial and error, l found treatments that worked wonderfully for me. Treatments that also cost a fraction of what I was spending on conventional healthcare.
I am not naive enough to go about strongly advocating a treatment. I merely suggested with good intention because of all that I have faced and learnt in the last couple of years. Especially that treatments can be financially draining and many may not be able to afford them. End of the day, we all depend on educated doctors to guide us. This treatment was suggested to me by a highly qualified doctor who is an MD, who has served MO for 25 years. He, after all his education in conventional medicine, chose to advocate an alternate therapy.
A certain gentleman has attacked my post and my intentions with rather strong words. Said gentleman is a Doctor too. I have no doubt that he knows more than I do. And l am quite sure his intentions were noble. It would have been kind and compassionate of him had he not been so provocative with his words. Especially the bit where he suggests I should be thrown in prison. Never mind. I suppose it goes with the territory of being a celebrity. I posted as someone who needs medical treatments and not as a celebrity. And I certainly am not making any money from the post nor endorsing anyone. I was merely suggesting a treatment as an option after undergoing it myself, for others who may be looking for options because conventional medicine isn’t working for them. Especially more affordable options.
We cannot just give up when medicines aren’t working. I certainly wasn’t ready to give up…
Coming back to the topic of the said gentleman Doctor, it would have been nice had he politely invited my Doctor, whom I have tagged in my post, rather than go after me. I would have loved to have learnt from that debate and discussion between two highly qualified professionals.
And as far as sharing information about the treatments that have helped my health, I shall be more careful as my intentions are only to help others. Not to harm anyone. I’ve had so many well meaning people suggesting ayurveda, homeopathy, acupuncture, Tibetan medicine, pranic healing etc. I heard them all out. I was merely doing something similar. Sharing something that worked for me, as an option. And I know many of us dealing with health issues need that help, especially given how overwhelming it is when every option has qualified people who are so certainly sure of their polar opposite opinions. Both sides, for and against every treatment, are both so sure and persuasive. It’s difficult to navigate these and find good help.
Samantha was diagnosed with myositis a couple of years ago, and has since spoken frequently about its affects on her health, and the measures that she is taking to address her illness. “The diagnosis was hard both mentally and physically…I was filming (at the time), and I kept telling them I’m okay and coming back in a week. I assumed, like any other condition,” she’d written in her original post from 2022. Samantha also hosts a health-related podcast series called Take 20.
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