Samantha reacts to doctors' criticism, says 'treatments expensive'

Leading Telugu actress Samantha Ruth Prabhu who is also making waves in Bollywood has issued an explanation after healthcare professionals criticized her for endorsing hazardous medical approaches. She suggested using hydrogen peroxide through a nebulizer to manage viral illnesses and posted an image of herself undergoing this treatment. Her message caught the eye of Dr. Cyriac Abby Philips, known as “The Liver Doc”, who stated that this method could have detrimental consequences on one’s well-being and denounced the actress, labeling her as “uninformed about health and science”.

In her statement, she said: Over the last couple of years, I’ve had to take many different types of medicines. I’ve tried everything I was strongly advised to take. As advised by highly qualified professionals and after doing as much self-research as possible for a layperson like me. Many of these treatments were also very very expensive. I would always keep thinking about how fortunate I am that I could afford it and about all those who cannot. And for the longest time, conventional treatments weren’t making me better. There’s a good chance it was just me and I am sure they will work very well for others. These two factors led me to also read up on alternate therapies and treatments. And after trial and error, I found treatments that worked wonderfully for me. Treatments that also cost a fraction of what I was spending on conventional healthcare. I am not naive enough to go about strongly advocating a treatment. I merely suggested with good intentions because of all that I have faced and learned in the last couple of years.

Especially since treatments can be financially draining and many may not be able to afford them. End of the day, we all depend on educated doctors to guide us. This treatment was suggested to me by a highly qualified doctor who is an MD, who has served DRDO for 25 years. He, after all his education in conventional medicine, chose to advocate an alternate therapy. A gentleman has attacked my post and intentions with rather strong words. Said gentleman is a Doctor too. I do not doubt that he knows more than I do. And I am quite sure his intentions were noble. It would have been kind and compassionate of him had he not been so provocative with his words.

Especially the bit where he suggests I should be thrown in prison. Never mind. I suppose it goes with the territory of being a celebrity. I posted as someone who needs medical treatments and not as a celebrity. And I certainly am not making any money from the post nor endorsing anyone. I was merely suggesting a treatment as an option after undergoing it myself, for others who may be looking for options because conventional medicine isn’t working for them. Especially more affordable options. We cannot just give up when medicines aren’t working. I certainly wasn’t ready to give up.

On the work front, Samantha has turned producer and playing the lead in her maiden production 'Maa Inti Bangaram'.