'Early Show' Responds To Criticism About Recent Guest
Last week, PE learned that Dr. Bill Law Jr., president of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, recently sent a letter to Michael Bass, executive producer of “The Early Show,” regarding a segment from the broadcast on Sept. 19 during which anchor Rene Syler interviewed Dr. Steven Hotze about thyroid disease.
You can watch the segment below:
In the letter, Law expressed the organization’s “extreme concern and disappointment with the unchallenged and scientifically erroneous comments” that Hotze made about the disease during the segment “and the effect that this information may have on the health of patients with thyroid disorders.”
From the letter:
Law then cited several examples of such statements that Hotze had made during the segment, and continued:
You can watch the segment below:
Video: In the letter, Law expressed the organization’s “extreme concern and disappointment with the unchallenged and scientifically erroneous comments” that Hotze made about the disease during the segment “and the effect that this information may have on the health of patients with thyroid disorders.”
From the letter:
“Many of Dr. Hotze's claims about the incidence and development of an underactive thyroid condition, commonly referred to as hypothyroidism, were completely erroneous and unsubstantiated, and are readily refuted by a large body of solid scientific evidence.”
Law then cited several examples of such statements that Hotze had made during the segment, and continued:
“It was truly astonishing and puzzling that Ms. Syler, an educated professional journalist on a national television program, would not challenge the validity of Dr. Hotze's statements in any fashion. His self-serving performance amounted to a thinly veiled infomercial for his practice and book, and the fact that it was permitted, and even invited, does not reflect well on your network.”
"AACE believes strongly that the national forum CBS provided to Dr. Hotze was a great disservice to your viewers, particularly those seeking and needing scientifically substantiated medical advice on the treatment of hypothyroidism. AACE would be happy to provide legitimate professionally-recognized medical experts to appear on CBS to discuss thyroid and other hormonal disorders in the future. In the meantime, we encourage you to view AACE’s guidelines on thyroid disorders at www.aace.com.”
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