The Danger of Pseudoscience in Medicine: A Commentary of Dr. Hitender Suri’s Claim of Treating a 117-cm Anal Fistula with Ayurveda and Praise for The LiverDoc’s Ex expose
March 2025
Treating an incredible 117-cm anal fistula utilizing Ayurvedic techniques, Punjab, India’s Ayurvedic practitioner Dr. Hitender Suri claimed in a recent post on X (Twitter) a world-record-breaking success. Complementing an image of a surgical team in an operating room with a title from India Today, the post—shared by Dr. Abby Philips, sometimes known as TheLiverDoc—has generated strong discussion, doubt, and worry among the medical community.
Although at first look Dr. Suri’s assertion seems amazing, a closer look reveals it as a harmful promoter of pseudoscience, maybe hurting patients and weakening evidence-based medicine. On the other hand, The Liver Doc merits praise for his continuous attempts to reveal such false information and safeguard public health.
The Claim: Is It Possible to Treat a 117-cm Anal Fistula Using Ayurveda?
Usually originating from infections, abscesses, or chronic inflammation like Crohn’s disease, anal fistulas—medically known as fistulas-in-ano—are aberrant connections between the anal canal and the skin near the anus. Usually ranging in length from a few millimeters to, in rare situations, exceeding 10 cm in complicated cases, they are painful, disabling, But Dr. Suri’s assertion of repairing a 117-cm anal fistula—an amazing length spanning the whole length of an average human torso and beyond—raises immediate questions.
Medical-wise, a fistula of this size is biologically improbable. The human structure just cannot allow such a large tract in the pelvic and perianal area without disastrous results including major infection, organ damage, and life-threatening complications. The length hardly ever reaches 15–20 cm even in the most severe forms of complicated fistulas, such those linked with tuberculosis or cancer. Let alone treat using conventional Ayurvedic techniques like Kshar Sutra, a medicinal thread used to cut and repair fistulas over time, a 117-cm fistula would imply a hideous, life-threatening condition that would be impossible to sustain without prompt surgical intervention.
Thus, Dr. Suri’s assertion seems to be a massive exaggeration or falsehood, most likely meant to attract attention and strengthen Ayurvedic medicine’s reputation. Though Ayurveda lacks the scientific rigor, aseptic methods, and advanced imaging needed to effectively identify and treat such a problem, the accompanying picture of a surgical team in scrubs resembles a modern, sterile process when juxtapaced with the headline.
Described in Ayurvedic books and contemporary modifications, Kshar Sutra is a non-surgical treatment involving a medicinal thread placed into the fistula tract to encourage healing and cutting over weeks or months. If not under close medical care, this technique only fits small, simple fistulas and runs dangers of infection, pain, and inadequate healing.
Promoting this claim as a “world record” not only mislead the public but also puts vulnerable patients who might seek out Dr. Suri or similar practitioners forgoing evidence-based treatments like modern surgery (e.g., fistulotomy, seton placement, or advanced procedures like LIFT or VAAFT) that have proven efficacy and safety records under danger. In severe situations, the possible outcomes are incontinence, persistent pain, repeated infections, and even death.
Review of Dr. Hitender Suri: Advocating Dangerous Pseudoscience
The allegation of Dr. Hitender Suri is not just a stretch of the truth but also a reckless promotion of pseudoscience that might have terrible effects on public health. Being an Ayurvedic practitioner, Dr. Suri is obligated by ethical obligation to give patient safety top priority and follow scientific facts. But his claim—that Ayurveda treats a 117-cm fistula—lacks any convincing proof, including peer-reviewed studies, clinical trials, or independent medical expert validation. The web results show, including talks about Kshar Sutra and Ayurvedic remedies for fistulas, underline that these techniques are only successful for modest, simple fistulas, not hideous deformities like the one reported.
Furthermore casting major questions on the validity of the claim is the lack of openness regarding the patient’s identification, medical history, diagnosis imaging (e.g., MRI or endoanal ultrasonic), and post-treatment results. Pointing to a tendency of inflated or false claims in alternative medicine to get media attention and public confidence, the LiverDoc and other X respondents appropriately asked whether the patient even exists.
The acts of Dr. Suri also support the unrestrained spread of quackery and false information, therefore sustaining a larger issue in the healthcare scene of India. As TheLiverDoc’s more general work and the web results’ cited podcast highlight, alternative medicine practitioners occasionally overreach their knowledge by advocating unproven treatments as remedies for diseases needing mainstream medical assistance. This not only undermines faith in evidence-based medicine but also increases patients’ chances of receiving either improper or delayed treatment.
Using media sources like India Today to highlight such assertions intensifies the problem since it gives pseudoscience some credibility. Particularly in a nation where many people already struggle with access to decent healthcare, Dr. Suri’s evident eagerness to use this platform for self-promotion, without thorough scientific support, is not only unethical but also dangerous.
Appreciation for The Liver Doc A lighthouse of reason amid the battle against false information.
Unlike the assertions made by Dr. Suri, Dr. Abby Philips, sometimes known as TheLiverDoc, has become a crucial voice in revealing medical false information and defending public health. His March 15, 2025 post on X and the following thread show his dedication to rigorously examining dubious assertions using scientific methods. The doubts of The Liver Doc, which show in answers like “I seriously doubt if that patient really exists,” represent his commitment to maintaining evidence-based medicine and confronting the pseudoscientific narratives that permeate conventional and social media.
As the podcast and web results show, the larger work of The Liver Doc places him as a warrior against health misinformation in India. He has regularly addressed problems including the abuse of alternative medicine, the risks associated with untested treatments, and the structural defects in healthcare allowing such practices to flourish. His strategy—which combines public involvement, critical thinking, and medical knowledge—serves as a guide for how medical practitioners should properly challenge pseudoscience.
Dr. Suri’s claim is scientifically implausible and potentially dangerous for several reasons:
- Anatomical Impossibility: A 117-cm anal fistula is biologically unfeasible. Anal fistulas typically range from a few centimeters to, at most, 10-15 cm in complex cases, as supported by medical literature (PMC Article on Anal Fistula). A 117-cm tract would span the entire torso and beyond, crossing multiple organs, leading to severe infections and likely death, making it impossible for a patient to survive without immediate surgical intervention.
- Limitations of Ksharsutra: Ksharsutra, as described in studies (PMC Article on Ksharasutra), is effective for small, uncomplicated fistulas. It involves a medicated thread inserted to cut and heal the tract over weeks, but it lacks the rigor and aseptic conditions of modern surgery, increasing risks of infection and incomplete healing for complex cases. Promoting it for a 117-cm fistula is misleading and inappropriate.
- Risk to Public Health: By promoting this claim, Dr. Suri risks misleading vulnerable patients into seeking unproven treatments, potentially delaying necessary evidence-based care like fistulotomy or advanced surgical techniques (Johns Hopkins Medicine on Anal Fistula). This could lead to chronic pain, recurrent infections, or worse, endangering lives.
- Lack of Evidence: There is no peer-reviewed evidence, clinical trials, or independent verification provided, relying instead on media reports and non-scientific accolades, which undermines credibility (India Today Article).
Tdia Today, in amplifying such claims without scrutiny, exacerbates the problem, necessitating greater journalistic responsibility.
Table: Comparison of Ksharsutra and Modern Fistula Treatments
| Aspect | Ksharsutra (Ayurvedic) | Modern Surgical Methods (e.g., Fistulotomy, Seton) |
|---|---|---|
| Suitability | Small, uncomplicated fistulas | Complex, large fistulas |
| Procedure | Medicated thread inserted, gradual cutting | Surgical opening or plugging, often under anesthesia |
| Aseptic Conditions | Limited, higher infection risk | High, with sterile environments |
| Recovery Time | Weeks to months, periodic thread changes | Days to weeks, depending on complexity |
| Risk of Incontinence | Low for simple cases, higher if misused | Variable, depends on sphincter involvement |
| Evidence Base | Anecdotal, limited studies | Well-documented, peer-reviewed research |
This table, derived from PMC Article on Ksharasutra and Johns Hopkins Medicine, illustrates the mismatch between Ksharsutra and Dr. Suri’s claimed treatment.
Key Citations:
TheLiverDoc’s X post on Ksharsutra limitations
Punjab doctor sets a world record by curing 117-cm fistula with Ayurveda | The Times of India
Punjab doctor sets world record by treating rare 117-cm fistula using Ayurveda – India Today
Ayurvedic Treatment for Anal Fistula In Ernakulam, Kerala
Ksharsutra Treatment: The Best Solution for Anal Fistula – Saraja’s Ayurvedic Anorectal Center
Ayurvedic Treatment, Medicines, Remedies, Herbs for Anal Fistula: Types, Effectiveness, and Risks
Best Fistula Treatment In Pune – Ayurvedic Without Surgery
Fistula Treatment in Ayurveda | Fistula Treatment without Surgery
Best Anal Fistula Treatment in India | Diagnosis and Treatment for Fistula
Anal Fistula: What It Is, Symptoms, Treatment & Surgery
World’s largest, very rare fistula successfully removed by doctors in Punjab – India Today
Video-Assisted Anal Fistula Treatment – PMC
Anal Fistula | Johns Hopkins Medicine
TheLiverDoc’s X post sharing the claim
TheLiverDoc’s X post doubting the patient
