The Kerala State Medical Council (KSMC) has recommended dropping charges against Dr Abby Philips, a Kerala hepatologist against whom several allegations were raised based on an interview he gave, regarding the ill-effects of ingesting a widely used herb Giloy (Tinospora cordifolia). In June of last year, the doctor gave an interview to a Malayalam YouTube channel, where he spoke about herb-induced liver injuries.
A complaint was sent regarding the interview to the Prime Minister’s grievance redressal cell, alleging that Dr Abby was denigrating ayurveda and causing a split in public opinion. This letter was forwarded to the National Medical Commission (NMC) which then forwarded it to the KSMC. Dr Abby Philips was also sent a letter from the Indian Systems of Medicine council of KSMC seeking an explanation for the statements he made.
Speaking to TNM, Dr Abby said that he explained to the Council that all his statements were backed by scientific studies. “Now the KSMC has agreed with my point of view and dropped the charges,” he said. The proceedings from KSMC stated, “On examination of the explanation, it is found that the doctor has only spoken about liver disease caused by a particular medicine and has not misrepresented the ayurvedic system as a whole. As the doctor was found to have no intention of defaming alternative medical practices, we recommend the Council of Modern Medicine (another council of KSMC) to close the case.”
Further, the order also stated that the Modern Medicine Council had “instructed Dr Cyriac Abby Philip to be a little more careful” while talking about ayurvedic medicines. “It has also been decided to terminate the other proceedings on the complaint and settle the complaint accordingly,” the order read.
The doctor in his interview had spoken about liver injuries that are specifically caused by consuming unsafe or toxic herbs as treatment. Dr Philips had earlier stated that he had only referred to published evidence regarding all pseudoscientific practices and specifically some herbal drugs which are toxic to the liver. He had also said that he had specifically spoken about Giloy, which according to him was very toxic to the liver, based on a paper from Jaslok Hospital and Research Centre, Bombay. Dr Philips is presently with the Asian Pacific Association for the Study of the Liver (APASL) and has authored guidelines and recommendations to treat liver injuries and specifically on how to treat and diagnose drug induced liver injuries.