Adam Smith (YouTuber)

Adam Smith is an Australia-based doctor from England who ran a YouTube channel under the name "Doc Adam".{{cite news |last1=Icamen |first1=Pinky |title=Tagalog-speaking doctor-vlogger Doc Adam quits YouTube: 'It's been a great journey with you all' |url=https://philstarlife.com/self/395748-tagalog-speaking-doctor-vlogger-doc-adam-quits-youtube-for-good |access-date=13 November 2021 |work=The Philippine Star |date=3 November 2021}} He started making videos on medical advice with the help of his Filipino partner in 2017. A Filipino-speaker himself, Smith caters to a Filipino demographic.{{cite news |last1=Malasig |first1=Jeline |title='Hanggang dito na lang': Doc Adam to cease vlogging after 4 years |url=https://interaksyon.philstar.com/trends-spotlights/2021/11/01/203506/doc-adam-to-cease-vlogging-after-4-years/ |access-date=13 November 2021 |work=Interaksyon |date=1 November 2021}} Smith used to visit the Philippines through medical missions and as a result has learned how to speak Filipino.{{cite news |last1=Madarang |first1=Catalina Ricci |title=Filipino-speaking Aussie doctor gets sued after calling out 'slimming' coffee brand |url=https://interaksyon.philstar.com/trends-spotlights/2020/10/19/179013/doc-adam-gluta-lipo-coffee-sued/ |access-date=13 November 2021 |work=Interaksyon |date=19 October 2020}} He then shifted to giving reviews on products which enjoys endorsements from celebrities and politicians with various unproven medical claims. He also ran an online shop where he sold health-related products, mostly low-carb and low-sugar food staples as well as Doc Adam branded merchandise.

In late 2020, fellow doctor Farrah Agustin-Bunch sued Smith after he disputed GlutaLipo coffee's slimming and whitening claims. Agustin-Bunch is also the head of GlutaLipo. Smith has also disputed Agustin-Bunch's natural or alternative medicine practices and questioned her training background at Harvard University. Among the other products of Agustin-Bunch previously covered by Smith are Boston C and Pixie Dust magnesium.{{cite news |last1=Cunningham |first1=Melissa |title=Potato to treat cancer? How challenging a naturopath prompted a million-dollar lawsuit |url=https://www.theage.com.au/national/potato-to-treat-cancer-how-challenging-a-naturopath-prompted-a-million-dollar-lawsuit-20230315-p5csds.html |access-date=19 March 2023 |work=The Age |date=18 March 2023 |language=en}}

This led to Smith's hiatus from YouTube from October to November 2020,{{cite news |last1=Madarang |first1=Catalina Ricci |title='I'm back': After YouTube hiatus, Australian Doc Adam returns with a challenge to Doc Farrah |url=https://interaksyon.philstar.com/trends-spotlights/2020/11/09/180051/im-back-after-youtube-hiatus-australian-doc-adam-returns-with-a-challenge-to-doc-farrah/ |access-date=13 November 2021 |work=Interaksyon |date=9 November 2020}} and October 2021 to February 2023.

In early 2021, Smith made a video about CopperMask PH's copper mask which is distributed by JC Premiere where he pointed out that there is a hole in the china part of the mask. In the video he explained that such mask are not recommended by Philippine and Australian health authorities. The doctor said that he had received cease and desist order for his video from CopperMask PH who believes that Smith is "defaming" the brand.{{cite news |last1=Esguerra |first1=Anthony |title=This Company Sold Trendy Masks With Holes, And Is Threatening Doctors Who Question Its Safety |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/copper-mask-review-controversy-philippines/ |access-date=13 November 2021 |work=Vice |date=1 March 2021 |language=en}}

Smith took a hiatus in YouTube, on 30 October 2021, to take a "different direction in life" after his lawsuit with Bunch-Agustin disrupted his professional practice as a doctor and incurred heavy legal cost.{{cite news |title=Filipino-speaking Australian doctor Adam Smith to leave YouTube |url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/lifestyle/hobbiesandactivities/809492/filipino-speaking-australian-doctor-adam-smith-to-leave-youtube/story/ |access-date=13 November 2021 |work=GMA News |date=3 November 2021 |language=en}}{{cite news |title=Filipino-speaking Aussie Doc Adam to stop vlogging |url=https://news.abs-cbn.com/life/11/01/21/filipino-speaking-aussie-doc-adam-to-stop-vlogging |access-date=13 November 2021 |work=ABS-CBN News |date=1 November 2021 |language=en}} Smith would start a crowdfunding campaign since his indemnity insurer won't cover the cost of his case.{{cite web|last1=Samecki |first1=Anna |title=GP sued by naturopath faces long road ahead |url=https://www1.racgp.org.au/newsgp/professional/gp-sued-by-naturopath-faces-long-road-ahead |access-date=19 March 2023 |publisher=Royal Australian College of General Practitioner |date=26 May 2022}}

On 6 February 2023 Smith announced that he would file a defense lawsuit against Agustin-Bunch using evidence he has accumulated.{{cite news |last1=Malasig |first1=Jeline |title=Doc Adam to take action vs Dr. Farrah's alleged health misinformation |url=https://interaksyon.philstar.com/trends-spotlights/2023/02/06/242151/doc-adam-evidence-dr-farrah-educating-health-misinformation/ |access-date=19 March 2023 |work=Interaksyon |date=6 February 2023}} He accused Agustin-Bunch of discouraging patients to undergo traditional cancer treatment to promote her own products leading to their deaths and the other doctor of humiliating Smith by tasking someone delivering him court papers of the case against him in his clinic during working hours. The delivery was filmed and uploaded into social media. Agustin-Bunch's side maintained that Smith has defamed her through his videos.

He would upload a video on YouTube on 22 February 2023, marking the end of his hiatus where he discussed updates on his lawsuit.{{cite news |last1=Malasig |first1=Jeline |title=Dr. Farrah as DOH secretary? Doc Adam shares alleged letter written to Duterte in 2018 |url=https://interaksyon.philstar.com/trends-spotlights/2023/02/24/244110/dr-farrah-doh-secretary-doc-adam-smith-letter/ |access-date=19 March 2023 |work=Interaksyon |date=24 February 2023}}

In a pre-trial judgement Supreme Court judge Justice John Dixon rejected the majority of the claims in Arsenia Agustin-Bunch's filing, stating that most imputations in the videos ‘are expressions of opinion’.https://www1.racgp.org.au/newsgp/professional/gp-in-defamation-battle-gets-pre-trial-lift

Smith is in a relationship with KC, a Filipino woman. When he announced his retirement from YouTube in 2021, Smith said that they planned to get married the following year. However the two were prevented from getting married as of February 2023 due to Smith suffering from anxiety and depression from dealing with a lawsuit with Agustin-Bunch.

In 2024, he started an altercation towards known Hip-Hop Celebrity Mark Jayson Warnakulahewa, Also known as "Makagago Wazzup Man" to defend a YouTuber named "Nico David". The results of this altercation is still unknown.

{{reflist}}

• {{YouTube|c=UCsrRPShwtgobdwkglhQVlDw|title=Doc Adam}}
• {{Facebook|DocAdamSmith| name= Doc Adam}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Smith, Adam}}

Category:Health and fitness YouTubers

Category:YouTube critics and reviewers

Category:Living people

Category:Year of birth missing (living people)

Category:21st-century English medical doctors