Filipino-speaking doctor-vlogger Doc Adam makes YouTube return
Filipino-speaking Australian-British vlogger Dr. Adam Smith, popularly known as Doc Adam, is back on YouTube.
Smith, who creates content on health advice and tips, made his return on the video platform after he quit making videos in November 2021.
"I left YouTube years ago, but in my opinion, the misleading advice online has been getting worse and worse," he said in his comeback video on April 6.
He then acknowledged the past backlash and cases he faced for his videos, including a cease and desist order from CopperMask PH.
"Pagkatapos ko umalis sa YouTube, I really just fell out of love with the Philippines, I removed all my YouTube videos... And I decided, tapos na talaga ako sa Philippines," Smith said.
The doctor-vlogger shared that he took other jobs in Australia but kept on seeing scams and health misinformation relating to Filipinos online, as well as stories of victims.
"After seeing all this stuff, I thought, 'Wow, hindi pa tapos ang laban ko.' Ang daming manloloko sa Philippines. Ang daming nagbibigay ng payo na hindi tama sa Philippines," he said.
"I have learned so much about how these scams and health misinformation operate, how they use the word 'natural,' how they use quack science, and how they use false hope and fear to scam their victims."
Before his return to YouTube, Smith released a book titled Quacks: My Journey Through Filipino Health Scams in February to "fight health scams."
"Bilang isang banyaga na nakakita ng mga kwento ng biktima, naniniwala akong may kakayahan tayo bilang isang bansa na itigil ang mga scam na ito. Sa librong ito, binibigyan ko ng hamon ang kultura at mga institusyon ng Pilipinas upang magbago at tiyakin na walang ibang biktima ang maghihirap," he said on his book.
Smith left YouTube in 2021. Before that, he took a hiatus in 2020 as he was embroiled in legal issues with Filipino doctor Farrah Agustin-Bunch, who Smith said gave "dangerous" advice online.
According to newsGP, the news hub of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, Smith and Bunch settled out of court in April 2023.
His newest video now includes a disclaimer stating he is "not accusing any individuals featured of promoting health scams, engaging in fraudulent practices or harming anyone's health."
"The content is intended for informational and educational purposes only, aiming to encourage critical thinking about health claims and trends. Any mention of specific individuals, organizations, or practices is not meant to suggest wrongdoing or unethical behavior."
