(Washington) Donald Trump announced Tuesday that he was appointing Mehmet Oz, a former star surgeon on television, to lead the enormous American public health insurance program.
Updated yesterday at 5:14 p.m.
“The United States is plunged into a public health crisis and there is no doctor more qualified than Dr. Oz to restore America to health,” the president-elect said in a statement.
“It will also reduce waste and fraud at our nation’s most expensive government agency,” Trump promised.
This 64-year-old surgeon is known for being a small screen star, who failed to enter politics.
Dubbed in the 2000s by the popess of American television Oprah Winfrey, who invited him as an expert on her set, he had his own show for more than 10 years, the Dr Oz Showwhich made him a celebrity.
PHOTO MIKE SEGAR, ARCHIVES REUTERS
Donald Trump and Mehmet Oz at a rally in Latrobe, Pennsylvania on November 5, 2022.
This son of Turkish immigrants even has his star on the famous “Walk of Fame” in Hollywood.
But his health recommendations, sometimes punctuated with qualifiers like “magic” or “miracle”, have earned him criticism from colleagues, and he has also been accused of having promoted ineffective or potentially dangerous treatments or food supplements, particularly on the COVID-19.
Candidate dubbed by Donald Trump in a highly scrutinized election in Pennsylvania, he failed to be elected to the US Senate in 2022.
His appointment, like those of other television stars to key positions – the person appointed by Donald Trump to lead the Pentagon is a former Fox News presenter – was criticized by the Democratic camp.
“We are becoming the world’s first reality TV show with nuclear weapons,” mocked elected official Jim Himes.
1. What qualifications and experiences make Dr. Oz a suitable candidate for leading the American public health insurance program, according to the Trump administration? Do you agree or disagree with this assessment?
2. How has Dr. Oz’s past as a TV personality and his reputation for making “miraculous” health claims influenced public perception of his new role in the healthcare system?
3. How might Dr. Oz’s appointment impact the overall effectiveness of the American public health insurance program?
4. What are some potential challenges that Dr. Oz may face in his new role, given his lack of experience in government and politics?
5. Does the appointment of television personalities to high-level government positions concern you, and if so, why?
