An advertisement featuring internist and cardiologist Dr. Antonio “Tony” Leachon supposedly endorsing a milk product for high cholesterol is fake and digitally manipulated.
Posted on June 1 on Facebook (FB), the first half of the seven-minute and 19-second ad shows the former Department of Health special adviser for non-communicable diseases promoting the product Nutri Health. In one segment, Leachon can be heard saying:
“Ang mga may mataas na kolesterol ay dapat magpagamot kaagad. Inirerekomenda ko ang lahat na gumamit ng gatas ng Nutri Heart – isang espesyal na gatas para sa mga may mataas na kolesterol o mga kondisyong nauugnay sa puso (Those with high cholesterol should seek treatment immediately. I recommend that everyone use Nutri Heart milk – a special milk for those with high cholesterol or heart related conditions).”
The rest of the video features at least two individuals, supposedly doctors, allegedly affiliated with the Philippine General Hospital, also encouraging the viewers to buy the milk.
Netizens are led to the website nutriheart.store where they are asked to provide personal information to avail themselves of the discounted product.
This is another fake ad for a health product not registered with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
In a June 24 FB post, Leachon clarified he does not endorse any product or supplement and reminded the public to only get updates from his official social media pages.
A screenshot from the physician’s vlog in November 2023 was tampered to make his mouth move before adding an AI-generated audio that matches his voice. This is a “cheap fake” or a low-quality version of a “deep fake” made through easily accessible editing software.
The Philippine General Hospital previously issued an advisory saying the “institution will never endorse any medical product including milk formulas.”
Article III Section 5 of the Philippine Medical Association Code of Ethics also prohibits physicians from commercially endorsing any medical or health product.
VERA Files has flagged other fake ads that used Leachon and other health professionals’ identities to sell fake cures. Read Bogus ‘CNN Philippines’ site posts FAKE story on joint disease cure)
The video uploaded by the bogus FB page Dr. Tony Leachon (created on May 31, 2024) has garnered 412 reactions, 107 comments and 41,000 views.
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(Editor's Note: VERA Files has partnered with Facebook to fight the spread of disinformation. Find out more about this partnership and our methodology.)