Indian hepatologist
Cyriac Abby Philips is an Indian hepatologist and clinician-scientist. He is known for his critical views of alternative medicine. He is known as "The Liver Doc" on social media where he frequently discusses his findings and research works on the negative effects caused by alternative medicines and practices.
Early life.
Philips was born in Kottayam, in the state of Kerala, the third of four siblings.
Career.
In 2019, Philips co-authored a paper analyzing the death of a woman who died after taking Herbalife's dietary supplements, which was later retracted by "Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hepatology". The retraction was undone, after microbiologist Elisabeth Bik and Retraction Watch, published the paper on their respective blogs.
Philips works as a senior consultant hepatologist and physician-scientist at Rajagiri Hospital in Kochi.
Social media activism.
Philips is known for airing his critical views of Ayurveda, Homeopathy and other alternative medicine systems, on Twitter and YouTube. According to him, the principles and practice of ayurveda are based on "essentially primitive, untested, observations from an ancient past which lack scientific rigour”. He has been the target of defamation lawsuits from Kerala State Medical Council for Indian Systems of Medicine, Ayurveda Medical Association of India, and various ayurvedic medicine manufacturers. In a research published in "Hepatology Communications", Philips and other researchers concluded that Homeopathic remedies can potentially result in severe liver injuries. He claims, "Homeopathy is not medicine, but an extreme form of quackery."
On 28 September 2023, Dr. Abby Philips' X account was suspended after an interim injunction order was passed by a Bengaluru court for defaming Himalaya Wellness Company. However, Philips maintains that his allegations against Himalaya Wellness Company are "fully science-backed and evidence-backed" and that all the analysis which he had done are available for public review.
Personal life.
He is the son of Padma Shri recipient, Philip Augustine, and is the father of two daughters and a son.
References.
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