World-famous US-Turkish surgeon Dr. Öz apologizes for comments on coronavirus deaths if schools open

Dr. Mehmet Öz, a heart surgeon and television personality, has raised eyebrows after advocating for reopening schools amid the coronavirus pandemic — saying that it would result in “only 2 to 3 percent” more deaths. Following backlash, the world renowned surgeon released an apologetic statement in a video on Twitter, saying: “I misspoke.”

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World-famous Turkish-American surgeon Mehmet Öz has called reopening schools amidst the coronavirus outbreak a very “appetizing opportunity,” suggesting that there would be a two to three percent increase in deaths as a result.

"Schools are a very appetizing opportunity. I just saw a nice piece in The Lancet arguing the opening of schools may only cost us 2 to 3 percent, in terms of total mortality. Any, you know, any life is a life lost, but ... that might be a trade-off some folks would consider," Öz said on April 14, while speaking to Fox News.

The Lancet piece Öz was referencing was published on April 8 and noted that “188 countries have implemented countrywide school closures, but a modelling study … concluded that in the U.K., school closures alone will reduce COVID-19 deaths by only 2-4 percent.”

Following backlash, the famous surgeon apologized for his remarks and posted a video on Twitter on April 16.

“I’ve realized my comments on risks around opening schools have confused and upset people, which was never my intention. I misspoke,” he said.

In his Twitter message, he said that he's spent his career fighting to save lives by minimizing risk. But he's constantly being asked how people can get back to their normal lives.

“To do that, one of the important steps will be figuring out how to get our children safely back to school,” he said. "We know for many kids school is a place of security, nutrition and learning that is missing right now.”

“These are issues that we are all wrestling with and I'll continue to look for solutions to beat this virus,” he said.

Dr. Öz is not the only U.S. television doctor that is in hot water due to his comments on COVID-19.

Dr. Phil was also heavily slammed following his appearance on Fox News show, during which he criticized government officials' orders to temporarily close certain businesses and instructing people to stay inside.

The TV host, whose real name is Phil McGraw, said these measures slowed down the economy and worsened poverty.

"The economy is crashing around us and they're doing that because people are dying because of coronavirus," he said. McGraw then argued that there are deaths each year due to automobiles, cigarettes, and swimming pools, "but we don't shut the country down for that."

He continued, "But yet we doing it for this? And the fallout is going to last for years because people's lives are being destroyed."

Topics Coronavirus mehmet öz Dr. Oz American Turkish surgeon