A New Jersey man is suing TV celebrity Dr. Mehmet Oz after allegedly incurring third-degree burns by following Dr. Oz’s home remedy for insomnia.
 
On the April 17, 2012, episode of his NBC show titled, “Dr. Oz’s 24-Hour Ultimate Energy Boost Plan,” Dr. Oz introduced his viewers to his home remedy for insomnia: "the Knapsack Heated Rice Footies,” a pair of socks with uncooked rice in the toes that are heated in the microwave oven. According to Dr. Oz, the heated socks divert blood to your feet, cool your body temperature and ultimately make you sleepy.
 
"You put this in the microwave until it's warm," Dr. Oz told viewers about the socks. "Don't get it too hot, just warm.”
 
Viewer Frank Dietl tried the home remedy that night, with adverse consequences that he claims caused him to be confined to his bed and home, required medical attention and prevented him from pursing his usual and ordinary activities. 
 
"Dietl was severely injured, bruised, and wounded, suffered, still suffers and will continue to suffer for some time physical pain and bodily injuries and became sick, sore, lame and disabled and so remained for a considerable length of time," said the civil complaint, filed in a New York state court. Dietl contends that Dr. Oz and his producers and distributors, all of whom are co-defendants, should have warned viewers of the possible negative side effects to people suffering from other additional medical conditions.
 
Dietl, 76, suffers from "neuropathy of the lower extremities," a result of diabetes, according to the lawsuit. The condition means Dietl has "a diminished sensation in his feet," it said. Thus, he couldn't tell whether the rice was dangerously hot.
 
"At this time, The Dr. Oz Show has not been served with any complaint and therefore cannot comment on the matter, however we stand by the content in our program as safe and educational for our viewers," Oz spokesman Tim Sullivan said.
 
—Source:  CNN.com