“Based on strong scientific evidence, or because of lack of it, I have been critical of several of Himalaya Wellness’ products,” said doctor-influencer Cyriac Abby Philips aka The Liver Doc, whose X account was suspended today for posting “defamatory remarks” against the ayurvedic pharma company.
A Bengaluru court ordered an interim suspension of Dr Philips’s account on X, formerly known as Twitter. The Kerala-based doctor is known for busting myths related to alternative medicines, including ayurveda. A hepatologist, he often challenges so-called home remedies through detailed posts on his social media accounts.
According to Livelaw, Himalaya Wellness Corporation in its plea accused Philips of posting derogatory statements against the company’s products due to which it incurred losses. The court issued an interim injunction order restraining Philips from “tweeting, making or re-publishing defamatory remarks”. It said the suspension was imposed to minimise the monetary and reputational damage caused to the company.
The company also claimed that the Kerala doctor purportedly promoted other companies such as Cipla and Alchem.
Philips said this was “entirely false”. “I have nothing to do with Cipla,” he said, adding that such claims were in fact defaming him. “I will appeal the order at a higher court. I am already in touch with a lawyer.”
Philips received no notification about the Himalayan Wellness petition against him and only got to know about the complaint after X suspended his account. “The platform shared the court order with me,” he said.
Moreover, the court order had no mention of any particular post for “the damage that the order claims I have caused”.
“I have been critical of several of Himalaya Wellness’ products that make outlandish claims without any proof. Like they claim their Liv.52 HB tablets cures hepatitis virus infection, but that’s not the case. Each of my posts are backed up with solid evidence and research,” Philips said.
He added, “Everything that I have put out on social media, even about the adulteration in the products, I have done so after testing it in government certified labs. It is no hearsay.”
“We get a lot of cases of liver injury and liver failure after the use of Himalaya products… We have even conducted clinical research on some of these products, including Liv52 and its impact on the liver. We regularly conduct research on drug induced liver injury and liver failure at Kochi’s Center of Excellence in GI Sciences, Rajagiri Hospital.”
He said that a research paper on Himalaya Wellness’ products was under peer review.
“The company should get back to me in the same stride with scientific proof. But there has been no rebuttal from their end. Now, this petition is just an attempt to shut people who spotlight their malpractice.”
Philips had previously been named in a complaint to the PM grievance cell that alleged he was “denigrating ayurveda” through his posts. The Kerala State Medical Council subsequently recommended that charges against him be dropped. Philips told The News Minute that he had informed the council that his statements were backed by scientific studies.
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