A 5-month-old's shocking death and the dangers of extreme diets, medical misinformation
An ‘alkaline diet’ of many fruits and vegetables, but severely lacks proteins, fats, and essential nutrients like vitamin D, may be good for adults trying to detox, but authorities say it led to severe malnutrition and killed a 5-month-old in Phoenix.
USA Today
A baby died. Three young kids, hospitalized. And, allegedly, it all happened in the name of health.
An Arizona couple is facing possible prison time after their parenting practices, shaped by online misinformation about medical care and nutrition, left their 5-month-old child dead and three other children suffering from chronic malnutrition, police and court records show. The couple allegedly adhered to a dangerous and debunked eating regime − called the alkaline diet − which they imposed on their kids.
The tragic ordeal points to a growing problem: medical misinformation. According to a 2024 poll by the Kaiser Family Foundation, most Americans encounter false health information online, and many are unsure whether it is accurate. Nearly 70% of doctors polled said they think patient trust declined from 2020 to 2022, but only 21% of Americans said the same, according to a 2023 poll.
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