Common Sense Health: A healthy debate starts with the facts

By Diana Gifford-Jones on August 22, 2025.

Starting in 1975, my father, Ken Walker, under the pen name W. Gifford-Jones MD, wrote a weekly column first appearing in the Globe and Mail, and subsequently syndicated in Canada and the U.S. This year, the column crossed the 50-year mark, my father passed away at 101, and now I’m carrying on. For new readers and old, I’d like to address questions recently directed to me.

People ask, why the pseudonym? Was my father trying to hide his identity? In fact, in 1967, the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario prevented him from publishing under his own name. They deemed his first book, written for a lay audience, to be the equivalent of advertising for patients, which was not allowed. Why he chose the name W. Gifford-Jones is found in his memoir. His publisher felt it sounded distinguished, like one might expect of a physician to the Queen! The name stuck as he authored more books and started his newspaper column.

In sharing his medical perspective, he challenged conventional wisdom and questioned the medical establishment. He took controversial stands on hotly debated issues, including abortion and medical assistance in dying. In another move, he invited readers to support his campaign to legalize heroin for terminal cancer pain management. Where did that money go?

Most went into purchasing newspaper advertisements to lobby for action by government. I’ve recently come across a wonderful historical record of this fight. I’ll share more in a future column. Excess funds were donated to the University of Toronto to establish a professorship in palliative care and pain management.

A reader approached me with questions about the scientific basis for my father’s position on natural remedies, particularly high-dose vitamin C and lysine. He also raised questions about the intersection of journalism and commerce: if there is a product, does it compromise the message? These are fair questions, and I want to address them directly.

First, let me be clear: the column is written as a matter of tradition. My father used to receive something like $7/week from some of the newspapers that published it. But as traditional print media collapsed, he offered the column for free, as I do. My motivation is not financial. It is about a personal commitment to continue a health column having a long history of informing the public with insights not easy to get from the doctor’s office.

Yes, my father did endorse products from time to time, most notably Medi-C Plus, a supplement he worked hard to develop and promote but which was subsequently purchased by another company ending my father’s involvement. And yes, at the age of 100, he launched his own new and advanced formula for heart health called Giff’s Own CardioVibe. It is sold commercially through a company now owned by my brothers and me. We have no moral objection to this. Natural health products play a valuable role when used responsibly, and promoting them does not, in our view, conflict with the integrity of this column. In fact, transparency is part of that integrity.

Scientific debate is at the heart of medicine. My father grounded his recommendations in research and observation. The goal has always been to present and explain the evidence, identify limitations, and offer practical advice. You are encouraged to make your own informed decisions. Critical thinking is central to the work.

Writing this column is an act of stewardship. It is a continuation of a legacy and a personal commitment to engage, educate, and empower readers. You may agree or disagree, and that is healthy. What matters is that the conversation is honest, transparent, and rooted in the intention to improve lives.