Rashid Ali Buttar was an American conspiracy theorist, anti-vaxxer and osteopathic physician.
15 Facts About Rashid Buttar
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Rashid Buttar was known for his controversial use of chelation therapy for numerous conditions, including autism and cancer.
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Rashid Buttar was twice reprimanded by the North Carolina Board of Medical Examiners for unprofessional conduct and cited by the US Food and Drug Administration for illegal marketing of unapproved and adulterated drugs.
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The son of Pakistani parents, Rashid Buttar was born in London in 1966.
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Rashid Buttar immigrated with his parents to the US at the age of 9 and grew up in rural Rosebud, Missouri.
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Rashid Buttar attended Washington University in St Louis, graduating with a bachelor's degree in biology and religion, and then earned a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree from University of Osteopathic Medicine and Health Sciences in Des Moines, Iowa.
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Rashid Buttar had made the claim of being board certified by several entities, all of which are listed as "questionable organizations" by Quackwatch, including the American Academy of Preventative Medicine, American Academy of Integrative Medicine, and American College for Advancement in Medicine; the latter's primary purpose is the promotion of chelation therapy.
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In 1998, Rashid Buttar launched and served as medical director for Medical Spa and Rejuvenation Center, a provider of massage services, in Huntersville, North Carolina.
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In 2007, Rashid Buttar was brought before the North Carolina Board of Medical Examiners, accused of unprofessional conduct for providing ineffectual therapies to four cancer patients.
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Rashid Buttar was criticized for his use of chelation therapies, such as topical cream containing chelators to treat children with autism, and for his use of intravenous hydrogen peroxide and EDTA to treat cancer.
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Rashid Buttar came to public attention in 2009 when he alleged to have successfully used chelation therapy to treat Desiree Jennings, a Washington Redskins cheerleading ambassador who had made dubious claims about having dystonia and losing her ability to walk or talk normally after receiving a flu shot.
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In 2019, the North Carolina Medical Board disciplined Rashid Buttar after receiving two complaints.
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Rashid Buttar died on May 18,2023, of an undisclosed cause, at the age of 57.
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Rashid Buttar promoted anti-vaccination videos sold by Ty and Charlene Bollinger and received a commission whenever his referrals resulted in a sale, a practice known as affiliate marketing.
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In early 2021 the Center for Countering Digital Hate released a report titled The Disinformation Dozen, which exposed that that two-thirds of anti-vaccine content including misinformation and outright lies, shared or posted on social media could be attributed to just twelve individuals, Rashid Buttar was listed as one of these individuals.