Doctor's Blood Test Ads Banned for Misleading Claims
Advertising watchdog rules Rangan Chatterjee's company made unsubstantiated claims about diagnosing and preventing diseases.
The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has banned advertisements for Rangan Chatterjee's blood-testing venture, Do Health, after finding the company failed to substantiate claims that its tests could diagnose or prevent diseases like Alzheimer's and type 2 diabetes.
The ASA ruled that adverts promoted on social media platforms like Facebook and LinkedIn misled consumers by suggesting the £249 annual subscription service offered by Do Health could address serious medical conditions. The watchdog stated it had not seen evidence to support such claims.
Chatterjee, known for his role as the resident doctor on BBC Breakfast and his "Feel Better, Live More" podcast, had promoted the service, which combines blood tests with lifestyle coaching. The ASA's ruling specifically addressed concerns that linking his personal interest in preventative health, citing his father's autoimmune disease and kidney dialysis, to the benefits of the tests gave the impression Do Health could identify and help prevent serious illnesses.
Do Health contested the ASA's interpretation, arguing that references to Chatterjee's father were meant to explain his motivation for focusing on prevention and that a LinkedIn post was commentary rather than an advertisement. However, the ASA rejected these arguments, concluding that the post promoted a service co-founded by Chatterjee.
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