Rashid Buttar

{{Infobox person

| name = Rashid Buttar

| image = RashidButtarundatedphoto.jpg

| caption = Undated photo of Buttar

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1966|01|20}}

| birth_place = London, England

| death_date = {{Death date and age|2023|05|18|1966|01|20}}

| death_place =

| education = Washington University in St. Louis
Des Moines University

| occupation = Physician

| title =

| spouse =

| parents =

| children =

| known_for = Conspiracy theories,
anti-vaccine views

| nationality = American

| website =

}}

Rashid Ali Buttar (January 20, 1966 – May 18, 2023) was an American conspiracy theorist, anti-vaxxer and osteopathic physician.{{cite news |last1=Turvill |first1=William |date=May 6, 2020 |title=Youtube conspiracy theory videos removed after Press Gazette probe |url=https://www.pressgazette.co.uk/youtube-conspiracy-theory-videos/ |accessdate=May 7, 2020 |work=Press Gazette}} He was known for his controversial use of chelation therapy for numerous conditions, including autism and cancer.{{Cite news |last=Avila |first=Jim |date=July 22, 2010 |title=Medical Mystery or Hoax: Did Cheerleader Fake a Muscle Disorder? |url=https://abcnews.go.com/2020/desiree-jennings-fake-muscle-disorder/story?id=11228285&singlePage=true |access-date=25 December 2024 |work=ABC News}} He was twice reprimanded by the North Carolina Board of Medical Examiners for unprofessional conduct{{Cite news |date=March 26, 2010 |title=Medical board reprimands Mecklenburg doctor of osteopathy |url=https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/medical-board-reprimands-mecklenburg-doctor-of-osteopathy/275-374414498 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200411082641/https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/medical-board-reprimands-mecklenburg-doctor-of-osteopathy/275-374414498 |archive-date=April 11, 2020 |access-date=25 December 2024 |work=WCNC-TV}} and cited by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for illegal marketing of unapproved and adulterated drugs. An analysis found that Buttar was one of the top twelve individual and organization accounts producing up to 65% of all anti-vaccine content on Twitter and Facebook.{{Cite news |last=Salam |first=Erum |date=17 July 2021 |title=Majority of Covid misinformation came from 12 people, report finds |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jul/17/covid-misinformation-conspiracy-theories-ccdh-report |access-date=25 December 2024 |work=The Guardian}}

Biography

The son of Pakistani parents,{{Cite news |last=Garloch |first=Karen |date=January 14, 2008 |title=Complaints hit doctor's treatments for cancer |url=https://www.thehour.com/entertainment/article/Complaints-hit-doctor-s-treatments-for-cancer-8248732.php |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210210055423/https://www.thehour.com/entertainment/article/Complaints-hit-doctor-s-treatments-for-cancer-8248732.php |archive-date=February 10, 2021 |access-date=25 December 2024 |work=The Hour}} Buttar was born in London in 1966. He immigrated with his parents to the U.S. at the age of 9 and grew up in rural Rosebud, Missouri. He attended Washington University in St. Louis, graduating with a bachelor's degree in biology and religion, and then earned a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree from University of Osteopathic Medicine and Health Sciences in Des Moines, Iowa.

Buttar had made the claim of being board certified by several entities,{{cite web |title=Rashid A. Buttar CV |url=https://www.drbuttar.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/DRBUTTAR-CV-c.pdf |website=drbuttar.com |accessdate=May 1, 2020}} all of which are listed as "questionable organizations" by Quackwatch, including the American Academy of Preventative Medicine, American Academy of Integrative Medicine, and American College for Advancement in Medicine; the latter's primary purpose is the promotion of chelation therapy.{{cite web |last1=Barrett |first1=Stephen |title=Questionable Organizations: An Overview |url=https://quackwatch.org/consumer-education/nonrecorg/ |website=Quackwatch |date=October 20, 2019 |accessdate=May 1, 2020}}

In 1998, Buttar launched and served as medical director for Medical Spa and Rejuvenation Center, a provider of massage services, in Huntersville, North Carolina.{{cite news |title=Business Digest: Medical Spa and Rejuvenation Center |url=https://charlotteobserver.newspapers.com/image/632557772 |accessdate=May 3, 2020 |publisher=The Charlotte Observer |date=July 27, 2008 |pages=19N}}

In 2007, Buttar was brought before the North Carolina Board of Medical Examiners, accused of unprofessional conduct for providing ineffectual therapies to four cancer patients. Three of those patients later died.{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nQJ9AgAAQBAJ | title=Defeating Autism: A Damaging Delusion | publisher=Routledge | author=Fitzpatrick, Michael | year=2008 | pages=63–64| isbn=9781134058983 }}{{cite web |title=Transcript of hearing before the North Carolina Medical Board in the matter of Rashid Ali Buttar, D.O. |url=https://quackwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/33/quackwatch/casewatch/depos/buttar_hearing.pdf |website=Quackwatch |accessdate=May 1, 2020 |date=April 23, 2008}} Following public hearings in 2008, the panel recommended that Buttar's license "be suspended indefinitely" and that he be prohibited from treating children and patients with cancer, but stayed the decision, ultimately giving Buttar a formal reprimand in 2010 while allowing him to continue to practice.{{Cite news |last=Garloch |first=Karen |date=April 25, 2008 |title=Medical panel: Restrict doctor |url=https://www.charlotteobserver.com/breaking_news/story/595637.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080507165109/http://www.charlotte.com/breaking_news/story/595637.html |archive-date=May 7, 2008 |access-date=25 December 2024 |work=The Charlotte Observer}}{{Cite news |date=March 31, 2010 |title=Huntersville doctor accepts reprimand, keeps unorthodox work |url=https://www.wbtv.com/story/12234723/huntersville-doctor-accepts-reprimand-keeps-unorthodox-work/ |access-date=25 December 2024 |work=WBTV}}

Buttar was criticized for his use of chelation therapies, such as topical cream containing chelators to treat children with autism, and for his use of intravenous hydrogen peroxide and EDTA to treat cancer.{{Cite news |last=Szabo |first=Liz |date=18 June 2013 |title=Book raises alarms about alternative medicine |url=https://eu.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/06/18/book-raises-alarms-about-alternative-medicine/2429385/ |access-date=25 December 2024 |work=USA Today}}{{cite journal |author1=Atwood KC |author2=Woeckner E |author3=Baratz RS |author4=Sampson WI |title=Why the NIH Trial to Assess Chelation Therapy (TACT) should be abandoned |journal=Medscape J Med |date=May 13, 2008 |volume=10 |issue=5 |page=115 |pmid=18596934 |pmc=2438277 }} He came to public attention in 2009 when he alleged to have successfully used chelation therapy to treat Desiree Jennings, a Washington Redskins cheerleading ambassador who had made dubious claims about having dystonia and losing her ability to walk or talk normally after receiving a flu shot.{{Cite news |last=Hamblin |first=James |date=September 17, 2014 |title=There Is No "Alternative Medicine" |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2014/10/there-is-no-alternative-medicine/379342/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141019110317/https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2014/10/there-is-no-alternative-medicine/379342/ |archive-date=October 19, 2014 |access-date=25 December 2024 |work=The Atlantic}}{{cite news |title=The Needle and the Damage (Not) Done |url=https://www.discovermagazine.com/mind/the-needle-and-the-damage-not-done |accessdate=May 1, 2020 |publisher=Discover |date=November 9, 2009}}{{cite news |title=Real? A Hoax? Or Something Else? Did A Flu Shot Cause Woman To Get Dystonia? To Be Broadcast Thursday, February 4th |url=https://www.viacomcbspressexpress.com/cbs-sports/releases/view?id=24173 |accessdate=May 1, 2020 |publisher=Inside Edition |date=February 4, 2010}}{{cite news |title=Flu Shot Woman |url=https://www.insideedition.com/headlines/159-flu-shot-woman |accessdate=May 1, 2020 |publisher=Inside Edition |date=February 4, 2010}} Reporting on the case, Discover described Buttar as a "a prominent anti-vaccine doctor who treats 'vaccine damage' cases".

In July 2009, Buttar and his wife Debbie achieved the rank of "blue diamond" within the distributor network of the multi-level marketing company Monavie, which sold an acai-based beverage until going into foreclosure in 2015.{{cite web |title=MonaVie's Newest Blue Diamonds—Dr. Rashid and Debbie Buttar |url=http://monaviemediacenter.com/monavies-newest-blue-diamonds%E2%80%94dr-rashid-and-debbie-buttar |publisher=Monavie LLC |accessdate=May 2, 2020 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20091206064339/http://monaviemediacenter.com/monavies-newest-blue-diamonds%E2%80%94dr-rashid-and-debbie-buttar |archivedate=December 6, 2009 |date=July 21, 2009}}

In April 2010, the FDA sent Buttar a warning letter for illegally marketing unapproved topical creams as drugs via his websites, YouTube videos, and radio appearances.{{cite web |title=FDA Warning Letter to Rashid Buttar, D.O. (13-ATL-15) |url=https://quackwatch.org/cases/fdawarning/prod/fda-warning-letters-about-products-2013/buttar/ |website=Casewatch |publisher=Department of Health and Human Services |accessdate=May 1, 2020 |date=November 25, 2013}} FDA inspections also revealed that Buttar's company, V-SAB Medical Labs, had not complied with good manufacturing practices and that its products were adulterated according to the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.{{cite news |date=May 21, 2013 |title=FDA Warns Boehringer, V-SAB Of Manufacturing Practice Violations |url=https://news.bloomberglaw.com/pharma-and-life-sciences/fda-warns-boehringer-v-sab-of-manufacturing-practice-violations |url-access=subscription |accessdate=May 1, 2020 |publisher=Bloomberg Law}}

In 2011, as a result of the disciplinary action in North Carolina, the Hawaii Medical Board denied Buttar a medical license.{{cite web |title=Licensee Information, Rashid Ali Buttar |url=https://portal.ncmedboard.org/Verification/viewer.aspx?ID=155456 |website=North Carolina Medical Board |accessdate=May 2, 2020}}

In 2019, the North Carolina Medical Board disciplined Buttar after receiving two complaints. In one case, a physician was worried that Buttar's treatment of a cancer patient hindered appropriate treatment and increased the patient's pain and suffering. In the other case, Buttar admitted that his personal relationship with the parent of a young patient constituted a boundary violation. Buttar and the Medical Board settled the complaints in a Consent Order that included a reprimand and a requirement to take courses in ethics and recordkeeping. Buttar acknowledged that his conduct constituted "unprofessional conduct including, but not limited to, departure from or the failure to conform to the ethics of the profession." Additionally, regarding the cancer patient, Buttar acknowledged that his documentation of care "failed to conform to the standards of acceptable and prevailing medical practice".{{cite web |title=Consent Order, In re Rashid Ali Buttar |url=https://portal.ncmedboard.org/file/fileDisplay.aspx?FileID=%2fE4Rb6FjCC0%3d&TYPE=DISCLIC |website=North Carolina Medical Board |accessdate=May 1, 2020 |date=February 6, 2019}}

In March 2021, an analysis by the Center for Countering Digital Hate of Twitter and Facebook anti-vaccine content found Buttar to be one of the top twelve individual and organization accounts producing up to 65% of all anti-vaccine content on the platforms.{{Cite news |last=Srikanth |first=Anagha |date=24 March 2021 |title=12 prominent people opposed to vaccines are responsible for two-thirds of anti-vaccine content online: report |url=https://thehill.com/changing-america/well-being/prevention-cures/544712-twelve-anti-vaxxers-are-responsible-for-two#selection-407.0-407.109 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210325074028/https://thehill.com/changing-america/well-being/prevention-cures/544712-twelve-anti-vaxxers-are-responsible-for-two#selection-407.0-407.109 |archive-date=25 March 2021 |access-date=25 December 2024 |work=The Hill}}

Buttar died on May 18, 2023, of an undisclosed cause, at the age of 57.{{Cite news |last=Merlan |first=Anna |date=May 22, 2023 |title=After an Anti-Vaccine Figure Dies Suddenly, Conspiracy Theories Abound |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/rashid-buttar-died-suddenly/ |access-date=25 December 2024 |work=Vice News}}{{cite web |date=May 23, 2023 |title=Death announcement |url=https://www.centersforadvancedmedicine.com/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230524022526/https://www.centersforadvancedmedicine.com/ |archive-date=2023-05-24 |access-date=May 23, 2023 |website=Centers for Advanced Medicine |quote=Dr. Rashid A. Buttar passed away suddenly, at his home, with his family on May 18th, 2023. The family, staff and supporters of Dr. Buttar are in shock and grieving at his sudden passing.}} Before his death he claimed he had been "poisoned" and targeted due to his anti-vaccine stance, some claimed he had "died suddenly" despite his failing health in the months before his death.{{R|vice}}

COVID-19 conspiracy theories and misinformation

During the COVID-19 pandemic, a series of videos featuring Buttar were posted to YouTube by the Next News Network website, known to publish misleading and far-right content.{{cite news |last1=Lewis |first1=Paul |title='Fiction is outperforming reality': how YouTube's algorithm distorts truth |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/feb/02/how-youtubes-algorithm-distorts-truth |accessdate=May 3, 2020 |work=The Guardian |date=February 2, 2018}}{{cite news |last1=Timberg |first1=Craig |date=November 24, 2016 |title=Russian propaganda effort helped spread 'fake news' during election, experts say |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/russian-propaganda-effort-helped-spread-fake-news-during-election-experts-say/2016/11/24/793903b6-8a40-4ca9-b712-716af66098fe_story.html |accessdate=May 3, 2020 |newspaper=The Washington Post}} In these videos, Buttar disparaged Anthony Fauci and made false claims, such as connections between 5G cell phone networks and "chemtrails" on one hand and COVID-19 on the other.{{cite news |last1=Breland |first1=Ali |title=Wellness Influencers Are Spreading QAnon Conspiracies About the Coronavirus |url=https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2020/04/wellness-qanon-coronavirus/ |accessdate=May 1, 2020 |publisher=Mother Jones |date=April 15, 2020}}{{cite news |last1=Cook |first1=Jesselyn |title=A Toxic 'Infodemic': The Viral Spread Of COVID-19 Conspiracy Theories |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/coronavirus-conspiracy-theories-social-media_n_5e83d701c5b6a1bb764f6d3b |accessdate=May 1, 2020 |publisher=Huffington Post |date=April 7, 2020}}{{cite web |last1=Kaplan |first1=Alex |title=YouTube took down a coronavirus conspiracy theory video for violating its rules, but it's making money through ads on reuploads |url=https://www.mediamatters.org/coronavirus-covid-19/youtube-took-down-coronavirus-conspiracy-theory-video-violating-its-rules-its |website=Media Matters for America |accessdate=May 1, 2020 |date=April 20, 2020}} YouTube removed the video a week after it was posted, replacing it with a message saying, "This video has been removed for violating YouTube’s Community Guidelines."

Buttar promoted anti-vaccination videos sold by Ty and Charlene Bollinger and received a commission whenever his referrals resulted in a sale, a practice known as affiliate marketing.{{Cite web|date=June 1, 2021|title=Pandemic Profiteers|url=https://252f2edd-1c8b-49f5-9bb2-cb57bb47e4ba.filesusr.com/ugd/f4d9b9_5311113400604e00b8ed2a4746021de8.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210602180845/https://252f2edd-1c8b-49f5-9bb2-cb57bb47e4ba.filesusr.com/ugd/f4d9b9_5311113400604e00b8ed2a4746021de8.pdf|archive-date=2 June 2021|access-date=3 June 2021|website=Center for Countering Digital Hate|publisher=Center for Countering Digital Hate}}

In early 2021 the Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH) released a report titled The Disinformation Dozen, which exposed that that two-thirds (65%) of anti-vaccine content including misinformation and outright lies, shared or posted on social media could be attributed to just twelve individuals, Buttar was listed as one of these individuals.{{cite web |last1=Bond |first1=Shannon |title=Just 12 People Are Behind Most Vaccine Hoaxes On Social Media, Research Shows |url=https://www.npr.org/2021/05/13/996570855/disinformation-dozen-test-facebooks-twitters-ability-to-curb-vaccine-hoaxes |website=NPR |access-date=16 February 2025}}{{cite web |last1=Jarry |first1=Jonathan |authorlink=Jonathan Jarry|title=A Dozen Misguided Influencers Spread Most of the Anti-Vaccination Content on Social Media |url=https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/covid-19-health/dozen-misguided-influencers-spread-most-anti-vaccination-content-social-media |website=McGill Office of Science and Society |access-date=16 February 2025}}