Who's a real doctor? Vidit Gujrathi, Liver Doc clash over Doctor's Day post

The controversy began when Gujrathi shared a selfie with his family on Doctor’s Day, captioning it- “Happy Doctor’s Day to my entire family.” In response to a user’s query about their medical backgrounds, Gujrathi mentioned that his father is an Ayurvedic migraine specialist, his wife has an MD in homoeopathy, his mother practices cosmetology, and his sister is a physiotherapist.

However, the post quickly took a contentious turn when Dr. Philips responded sharply, “I’m sorry, but none of them are really doctors,” effectively rejecting the recognition of Ayurveda, homeopathy, and cosmetology as legitimate forms of medical science. The comment ignited widespread backlash, particularly from supporters of traditional and alternative medicine.

Gujrathi hit back strongly, accusing Dr. Philips of building his entire online persona on mockery. “Your entire brand and personality are built on insulting others,” he wrote. “While you chase retweets by tearing people down, my family quietly heals lives without needing a spotlight. They’ve helped more people than your ego can count. Stay in your lane. And for a change, try being useful.”

Dr. Cyriac Abby Philips continued by stating, “Hello, Vidit. I am not a fan of chess, but you are an important person for our country, and I did not mean to offend your family. I was stating plain facts from a professional standpoint, and I do not mince my words. You may call that ego or whatever, to console yourself, no problem. Your statement on Doctors Day claiming an Ayurveda practitioner, Homoeopath, Cosmetologist, and a Physiotherapist were doctors is wrong, and I stand by my words.”

He further added that Doctors' Day in India marks both the birth and death anniversary of Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy, one of India's most revered physicians and a key figure in shaping the healthcare system. Ayurveda, Homeopathy, Cosmetology, or Physiotherapy are not realistic clinical medicine, and their practitioners are not clinical physicians. Physiotherapy is a legit branch of healthcare (adjunct to clinical medicine), but the rest are just plain sham - especially Homeopathy. “You got all worked up and started personally attacking me because you were ignorant of this fact. I do not need to keep an ego towards a chess GM or his family. You don't make me insecure, and your family is of no concern to me from a professional standpoint. But what you claim them to be has major public health consequences, because someone of your stature, being ignorant about science and health, affects public perception of realistic healthcare and pseudoscientific practices. Your statements normalise pseudoscience and primitive therapies as healthcare practices when they are not,” he added.

He also clarified that these are alternative medicines, and alternative medicine is medicine that is not proven to work. Just like there is no alternative chemistry, alternative physics, or alternative mathematics, alternative medicine is also not medicine. And its practitioners are not doctors. He stated, “I am a certified internist with a doctorate in hepatology and liver transplant medicine with 260 peer-reviewed scientific publications, 4400 citations, and an h-index of 30 (just for your information). You don't know me and how useful I am to my patients and their families.

I suggest you do a bit of homework before throwing such childish tantrums. I am staying in my lane and always have. Calling out medical misinformation is what I do apart from being a full-time doctor. I suggest you stay in your lane and discuss more about chess.” Responding to the doctor, he stated, “My parents are certified doctors who sacrificed thriving careers to travel with me and shape my journey. They rebuilt themselves, found new ways to heal, and continue helping others with quiet dignity. You don’t have to agree with them. But you don’t get to dismiss them.”

The spat has since snowballed into a broader debate on the legitimacy of alternative medicine in India, with thousands weighing in on both sides. While some backed Gujrathi for defending his family and traditions, others sided with Dr. Philips’ call for evidence-based medicine. While one of the users defended the liver Doc, saying, “I think he said that because a lot of people die in the name of traditional medicines, and he has been vocal for that. I may not agree with the way he speaks out. It looks harsh. But the fact he mentions has been mostly right.

You both are an asset to the nation,” another criticized the doctor, stating, “Just because you wear a white coat doesn’t give you the right to decide who is a real doctor. Physiotherapists rebuild lives, and cosmetologists restore confidence. If you can’t respect other healing systems, maybe the ego needs treatment, not the patients.”