The recent interaction between chess grandmaster Vidit Gujrathi and Dr. Cyriac Abby Phillips, popularly known as "The Liver Doctor", has reignited the long-standing debate around whether alternative medicine practitioners should be called doctors.
Vidit’s Gratitude Post Backfires
On Doctor’s Day, Vidit Gujrathi posted a selfie with his family—his father, mother, wife, and sister—captioned, “Happy Doctor’s Day to my entire family.”
When an X user asked about their specialties, he replied: his father is an Ayurvedic migraine specialist, his mother works in cosmetology, his wife holds an MD in homeopathy, and his sister is a physiotherapist.
But the reply didn’t sit well with Liver Doc, a renowned hepatologist.
Liver Doc Calls It Out
Dr. Cyriac Abby Phillips reshared the post with the remark, “I am sorry, but none of them are doctors.” The post quickly gained traction, sparking a wider debate about who qualifies to be called a doctor.
The Internet Reacts
The exchange divided users online. While some backed Dr. Phillips for calling it out, others defended Vidit for simply expressing love for his family.
One user commented that doctors are called healers, and fields like Ayurveda, homeopathy, and physiotherapy also help people heal, so they deserve the title. He added that although he respects Liver Doc’s work, the tone of his response felt dismissive.
Another user supported Dr. Phillips and said it’s high time the government removes the title of “doctor” from Ayurvedic and homeopathic practitioners.
The Back and Forth
Though Vidit deleted his initial post, he responded strongly to Liver Doc’s tweet.
He said Dr. Phillips’s whole personality revolves around belittling others and chasing engagement on Twitter, while his family quietly does their work without needing the spotlight.
Liver Doc hit back, saying Vidit’s post normalized pseudoscience and that he simply calls facts as they are. He clarified that he didn’t mean to offend Vidit’s family.
“I was stating plain facts from a professional standpoint and I do not mince my words. You may call that ego or whatever, to console yourself, no problem. Your statement on Doctors Day claiming an Ayurveda practitioner, Homeopath, Cosmetologist and a Physiotherapist were doctors is wrong and I stand by my words.”Dr. Cyriac Abby Phillips, TheLiverDoc
Vidit later added that his post was simply a gesture of gratitude. He said he had initially chosen silence, but felt compelled to speak up when his family was disrespected, adding that this would be his final word on the matter.
“You and trolls like you don’t get to decide who’s a doctor. You have no authority to define others lives or dismiss their work. I’ve said my part. Now, back to what actually matters. No time for noise.”Vidit Gujrathi, Indian Chess Grandmaster
Here’s how the exchange unfolded on X (formerly Twitter):
Bigger Conversation
While the Indian Medical Association (IMA) allows Ayurvedic and homeopathic practitioners to use “Doctor” in their titles, and the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions (NCAHP) permits physiotherapists to use “Dr.” with the suffix “PT,” the debate over these titles continues to divide opinion.
(Rh/Pooja Bansal/MSM/SE)