1. United States
2. Mass.
3. Letter

I strongly urge against confirming Dr. Mehmet Oz as the head of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Oz has repeatedly promoted unproven and potentially harmful medical advice without scientific evidence. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he irresponsibly touted the unproven drug hydroxychloroquine as a treatment. He has given a platform to vaccine denialists like Robert F. Kennedy Jr., whose views put public health at risk. Oz's propensity for amplifying pseudoscience and conspiracy theories makes him unfit to lead an agency responsible for overseeing healthcare for 155 million Americans. His confirmation would undermine public trust in CMS and enable the spread of misinformation that could endanger lives. As an accomplished surgeon, Oz should understand the importance of following evidence-based medicine rather than peddling unsupported cures for profit. Putting him in charge of CMS would be an affront to science and a disservice to the American people who rely on these crucial healthcare programs. I implore you to oppose this nomination and instead select a qualified, ethical leader committed to upholding medical facts over fictions.