CNN has reported that a New Jersey man that took medical advice from television's Dr. Mehmet Oz is suing Oz, NBC, Sony Pictures Television, ZoCo Productions and Oprah Winfrey's Harpo Productions for injuries he sustained as a result.
On the April 7, 2002 show titled "Dr. Oz's 24-Hour Ultimate Energy Boost Plan" Dr. Oz detailed his "night sleep special."
The special included a segment on the "Knapsack Heated Rice Footsie" – where viewers were instructed to put uncooked rice into the toe section of a pair of socks, heat the socks in a microwave and then put them on just prior to bedtime.
Oz explained, "When you do this and lie for about 20 minutes with those socks on in bed, the heat will divert blood to your feet to your heat, when your feet get hot, guess what happens to your body. It gets cold. Your body will automatically adjust its core temperature and as it gets cooler, you're going to be able to sleep better because your body has to be cold in order to be sleepy."
Oz assured his viewers that "If you can do this the right way, you're going to be thanking me for years to come."
The plaintiff, R.D., 76, took the advice to heart and tried the doctor's advice that night before bedtime as instructed.
According to the lawsuit R.D., who suffers with neuropathy of the lower extremities, "was severely injured, bruised, and wounded, suffered, still suffers and will continue to suffer for some time physical pain and bodily injuries and became sick, sore, lame and disabled and so remained for a considerable length of time."
R.D.'s existing medical condition is a result of diabetes and causes him to have "diminished sensation in his feet" – which meant that R.D. was not able to detect if the rice was too hot in his socks.
The suit states that Oz and his co-defendants were negligent in failing to warn viewers with neuropathy that it was "reasonably foreseeable" that they may "sustain serious physical injury."
Furthermore, Oz is specifically accused of failing in his "duty and obligation to warn viewing audience as to the possible effects of following the advice offered" and failing "to warn against certain effects of said medical advice as to those persons suffering from other additional medical conditions."
Due to the defendant's "careless and negligent manner in which the defendants offered medical advice" R.D. is asking for a monetary award for his damages.
According to the suit R.D. was "confined to bed and home, has required medical attention, and has been prevented for some time to come, from pursuing his usual and ordinary activities" since he used the Knapsack Heated Rice Footsie.
In response Oz spokesman Tim Sullivan told reporters, "At this time, The Dr. Oz Show has not been served with any complaint and therefore cannot comment on the matter however we stand by the content in our program as safe and educational for our viewers."
A serious injury can occur under many different types of circumstances. Contact a personal injury lawyer if you feel you have a case!