Dr. Oz tells critics, "I'm not going anywhere"
He may be under fire in the press, but Dr. Mehmet Oz wants his critics and fans to know he's not going to give up or go away.
The popular host of "The Dr. Oz Show" has written a pointed response to the group of 10 doctors who got widespread attention last week with a letter accusing him of "promoting quack treatments and cures in the interest of personal financial gain." They called on Columbia University to drop him from the faculty, where Oz, a cardiothoracic surgeon, serves as vice chair of the department of surgery.
In an op-ed column published Thursday in Time magazine, Oz acknowledged that at times, his desire to explore a range of alternative treatment options for his viewers has gone too far. "For example, my voyage into the land of weight loss supplements left me in a very unsavory place," he writes. "I wish I could take back enthusiastic words I used to support these products years ago. And I understand the criticism I've received as a result."
However, Oz said he remains convinced that there are a variety of paths to better health and that Western medicine alone does not have all the answers. "Unconventional approaches appear to work in some people's lives," he writes. "Despite being criticized, I want to continue exploring for myself and my audience."
Oz also highlights an issue that he believes lies at the heart of the latest criticism: his position on genetically modified foods.
The author of the letter, Dr. Henry I. Miller of the Hoover Institution, a conservative think tank at Stanford University, told CBS News he felt compelled to speak out because of what he called Oz's "fear-mongering" on the issue.
On his show, Oz has engaged in numerous discussions of the safety and purpose of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and has stated his support for labeling to inform consumers when foods contain GMO ingredients -- a position two-thirds of Americans agree with in recent polling.
In the Time article, Oz points out that Miller has been active in the campaign to block GMO labeling regulations in California. He also notes that 5 of the 10 physicians who signed the letter have ties to the American Council on Science and Health, which Oz describes as "a group that has reportedly received donations from big tobacco and food and agribusiness companies, among others."
"These doctors criticized my 'baseless and relentless opposition to the genetic engineering of food crops,' which is another false accusation," he writes. "Whether you support genetically engineered crops or not, the freedom to make an informed choice should belong to consumers."
"I know I have irritated some potential allies," Oz concludes. "No matter our disagreements, freedom of speech is the most fundamental right we have as Americans. We will not be silenced. We're not going anywhere."
Oz is addressing the controversy further in a segment airing on his show Thursday.