Quack Doctors Selling People’s Lives – Call for Judiciary and Parliament to Act + Video

In the interview conducted by Afshin Amirshahi, host of “Rok,” Raiszadeh addressed the alarming rise of “Instagram medicine,” where non-medical individuals use attractive appearances and confident online personas to offer health advice and even prescriptions, often with thousands of followers.

Afshin Amirshahi, host of the “Rok” program, stated: “In recent months, we have witnessed an increase in activity on social media by individuals who, without any medical qualifications, speak confidently and attractively about various pains and illnesses and even offer prescriptions. These individuals are not doctors, yet they have large followings. This phenomenon has effectively created what can be called ‘Instagram medicine’ or ‘doctor blogging.’ The question is: what plans does the Medical Council have to address this phenomenon, and how can it respond to this wave?”

Dr. Mohammad Raeeszadeh, President of the Medical Council, responded: “Currently, we are facing two categories of unauthorized health-related promotions.

The first category consists of unauthorized interveners—individuals who are not doctors but present themselves online as medical professionals, offering treatments or prescriptions. The second category consists of doctor-bloggers, who are licensed physicians and members of the Medical Council but, unfortunately, by engaging in promotional activities and sensationalist displays on social media, harm their professional standing.

Regarding the second group, since they are registered with the Medical Council and operate under its regulations, legal action is possible, and we are pursuing it. However, the reality is that the scale of this phenomenon is very large—like a vast ocean that is difficult to control.”

However, regarding the first category, namely unauthorized interveners, unfortunately, we are facing a national and dangerous challenge. These individuals cause three serious harms to the country:

Endangering public health — Many of these individuals have cost patients their lives. To be frank, the hands of some of these interveners are stained with the blood of people. By delaying scientifically proven treatments, they contribute to patient deaths. There are numerous examples, ranging from diabetic patients who lost their limbs due to herbal and unscientific remedies, to patients who, instead of consulting a specialist, lost their lives following online recommendations.

Damaging the credibility of Iran’s medical community — Globally, Iranian medicine holds a scientific and respected position, yet the actions of these unauthorized interveners have placed the reputation of the medical profession at risk.

Humanitarian and social tragedies — We have seen multiple cases of painful deaths directly caused by these individuals’ incorrect and unscientific advice. One particularly tragic case involves a 40-year-old woman from Shiraz who had early-stage breast cancer, which was fully treatable. However, relying on unscientific and herbal recommendations, she delayed proper treatment, and today she is in a condition where no intervention can save her.

Dr. Raeeszadeh continued: “The public must understand that consulting unqualified individuals is a gamble with their lives. Just as the law enforces accountability in other areas, stricter oversight must be applied in the healthcare sector as well. Confronting fake doctors and unauthorized interveners is one of the major health challenges facing the country.”

“Unauthorized Interveners Are Thieves of Life, Wealth, and Reputation of the Nation”

Dr. Mohammad Raeeszadeh, in continuation of his interview with the “Rok” program, referred to a recent distressing case: “One of the most tragic incidents we have observed recently involved a 40-year-old woman from Shiraz who, through telemedicine, contacted a person in another city. This individual, posing as a healer, was not a doctor and instructed her to obtain and consume specific herbal medicines from an apothecary. The patient, hopeful and spending several million tomans, followed these herbal treatments for about six months. During this period, her disease, which was in the early stages of breast cancer, progressed, and now her entire chest is affected. Unfortunately, no effective treatment is now possible. This is a clear example of the catastrophe caused by unauthorized interveners—they literally endanger people’s lives.”

The head of the Medical Council added: “These individuals do not only threaten public health, but they also exploit the country’s healthcare economy. Let me be clear: unauthorized interveners are thieves—thieves of life, wealth, and the nation’s reputation. They steal lives because their misguided treatments lead to patient deaths. They steal wealth because, instead of visiting a licensed physician with a reasonable consultation fee of 385,000 to 400,000 tomans, patients are led to spend millions on herbal remedies and baseless methods. And finally, they steal the medical reputation of our country internationally, as their actions tarnish the scientific and humanitarian image of Iran’s medical community.”

“Over the Past 20 Years, Punishments Have Been Reduced Instead of Strengthened”

Dr. Mohammad Raeeszadeh also addressed the weaknesses in legal frameworks for dealing with unauthorized interveners, stating: “Unfortunately, over the past years, deterrent laws in this field have been weakened. Around 60 to 70 years ago, unauthorized interference in medical matters was considered a serious crime, and imprisonment was enforced as a punishment. However, over the past two decades, instead of increasing penalties, we have witnessed reductions and even the elimination of prison sentences. Today, if an unauthorized intervener endangers public health, the maximum penalty is merely five to ten million tomans! Meanwhile, a licensed physician who has made every effort to save a patient’s life but commits unintentional negligence can face imprisonment. This legislative logic is truly questionable.”

He emphasized: “We have repeatedly urged the Iranian Parliament to take the issue of unauthorized interveners seriously. These individuals are not merely violators; they are directly responsible for patient deaths, damage to the healthcare system, and public distrust. It is time for the Parliament and Judiciary to act with national resolve and take firm and deterrent measures against this dangerous phenomenon.”

Dr. Raeeszadeh added: “Our efforts to combat unauthorized interveners have not been limited to rhetoric. Through continuous follow-up, we have been able to bring these cases under the jurisdiction of the Government’s Organization for Sanctions (Tazirat), where effective measures have been implemented. In relevant sanction cases, fines of up to 1,062,000,000 tomans can now be imposed in the second phase, and the assets and equipment of offending centers can also be confiscated.

This achievement is the result of cooperation and coordination between the Medical Council, Tazirat, and judicial bodies. Both the medical community and the public must know that the legal enforcement path is open and active. However, I emphasize that disciplinary and judicial action is only part of the solution; we also need public education, awareness campaigns, and reforms to deterrent laws at a macro level to prevent the re-emergence of these dangerous phenomena.”

In conclusion, he urged citizens: “Do not trust medical advertisements or treatment claims on social media. Before undertaking any treatment or purchasing medications, consult official healthcare centers and licensed physicians. Public health is far more important than any economic profit, and we will not allow anyone posing as a healer to endanger the health, lives, or assets of the people.”