CBS News Appoints Controversial Functional Medicine Advocate as Contributor
In a move that has sparked significant debate within medical and media circles, CBS News has announced the hiring of Dr Mark Hyman as a new contributor. The appointment forms part of editor-in-chief Bari Weiss's ongoing restructuring of the network's news division. Dr Hyman is a prominent figure in the field of functional medicine, an alternative healthcare approach that has faced substantial criticism from mainstream scientific bodies for promoting unproven treatments and diagnostic methods.
Questionable Medical Claims and Practices
Dr Hyman has made numerous controversial health assertions throughout his career, including claims that he reduced his biological age by twenty years through therapies like cold plunges. He has suggested cod liver oil can treat autism and promoted the idea that conditions including Alzheimer's and dementia are reversible through nutritional supplements, many of which he sells via his online platforms. Medical author Harriet Hall has labelled him a "germ theory denialist," while oncological surgeon David Gorski has described functional medicine as "pure quackery."
The Institute for Functional Medicine, where Hyman serves as a board member, promotes the practice as a method to "restore healthy function by treating the root causes of disease." In practical terms, this often involves extensive testing of stools, hormones, and food sensitivities, followed by treatments using supplements, specific nutrition plans, and therapies like yoga and acupuncture. Critics argue these methods lack robust scientific validation.
Political and Financial Connections
The hiring is viewed by observers as likely to align with the current Donald Trump administration's stance. Dr Hyman maintains a long-standing collaboration with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr, having written the preface for Kennedy's 2014 book arguing for the removal of the preservative Thimerosal from vaccines. Both figures have positioned themselves against the scientific consensus on vaccine safety.
Financially, Hyman benefits from support by Silicon Valley venture capitalists who have also backed Bari Weiss's previous ventures. His company, Function Health, secured a $298 million Series B funding round led by Andreessen Horowitz last November, valuing the firm at $2.5 billion. Andreessen Horowitz co-founders Marc Andreessen and David Horowitz are noted Trump supporters and donors, having also invested in Weiss's former outlet, The Free Press.
Scientific Community Expresses Concern
Jonathan Jarry, a science communicator with McGill University's Office for Science and Society, has been openly critical of the appointment. "By hiring Mark Hyman, CBS News will be misinforming its large audience on the subject of health," Jarry stated. He described functional medicine as "a pipeline that moves disenchanted healthcare providers away from evidence-based care and into the arms of a very lucrative wellness industry."
Jarry further predicted that CBS viewers would be encouraged to pursue costly, comprehensive testing and consume arrays of unproven dietary supplements. He connected this trend to broader political shifts, noting it aligns with "the institutionalization of pseudoscience" under the current administration.
Controversial Alliances and Publications
Beyond his work with RFK Jr, Hyman co-authored The Daniel Plan with evangelical pastor Rick Warren and Dr Daniel Amen. The book makes several bold health claims that contradict established scientific studies, including assertions that MSG consumption "triples your insulin production" and that "sugar is the main cause of disease." It also intertwines health advice with socially conservative moral teachings based on biblical passages.
On his website and through various media appearances, Hyman promotes the use of peptides not approved by the FDA for specific treatments, such as BPC 157 for tendon healing and LL-37 for managing long Covid symptoms. This aligns with Kennedy's stated intentions to relax FDA scrutiny on experimental substances.
Network's Strategic Direction
The CBS announcement listed Hyman among nineteen new contributors. While the specific format of his contributions remains unclear, Weiss reportedly told staff at an internal meeting to utilise these new hires extensively, indicating they represent just the beginning of her editorial strategy. The move signals a potential shift in the network's approach to health coverage, prioritising alternative viewpoints that challenge conventional medical consensus.
Requests for comment sent by The Guardian to Dr Hyman's listed addresses and to a CBS News spokesperson regarding these appointments and the associated controversies received no immediate response. The hiring continues to generate discussion about the responsibilities of major news networks in disseminating health information and the growing influence of alternative medicine in public discourse.
