Ohio voters will head to the polls in a few days to choose their next governor. The race has drawn national attention, with former Ohio health director Dr. Amy Acton facing businessman Vivek Ramaswamy. As the campaign heats up, a political‑action committee called V‑Pac (Victors, Not Victims) released an advertisement that attacked Dr. Acton’s medical credentials and personal conduct.
Ad’s claim about “insufficient” medical knowledge
The ad asserted that Dr. Acton’s medical knowledge was rated poorly. PolitiFact traced the statement to a 1990 evaluation conducted by a physician who supervised Dr. Acton’s internship shortly after she earned her medical degree. That early review labeled her knowledge as “insufficient.” However, the same source noted that the rating reflected a brief, four‑month supervision period and did not represent a comprehensive assessment of her abilities.
Importantly, a later evaluation from 1994—when Dr. Acton applied for a new position after completing her residency—described her performance as “excellent.” The contrast shows that the ad cherry‑picked an outdated, isolated rating while ignoring the subsequent, positive review.
Allegation of hidden substance use
The advertisement also claimed, “Later, Acton told the medical board she was clean. Days later, police came to her house, finding that she’d combined alcohol and prescription drugs.” PolitiFact found this narrative misleading as well.
In her 2019 medical‑license renewal, Dr. Acton answered “no” to a question about addiction or dependency on drugs or alcohol. The police visit to her Bexley home occurred months after the license renewal, not days, and was prompted by a reported domestic dispute—not by a routine check for substance use. The dispute stemmed from the long hours Dr. Acton worked as Ohio’s health director, according to her campaign.
During the incident, Dr. Acton reported having one alcoholic drink and a regularly prescribed medication. Bexley police found no evidence of physical violence, and no arrests or charges were filed. Dr. Acton’s husband, Eric, later said he was the one who had consumed too much alcohol that evening.
What the facts mean for voters
Both claims in the ad rely on selective information that does not reflect the full record. The 1990 “insufficient” rating was superseded by an “excellent” rating in 1994, and the police encounter was unrelated to any alleged substance abuse. Voters should consider the complete context when evaluating candidate advertisements.
As Ohio prepares for its gubernatorial election, accurate information remains essential for a fair decision. Fact‑checking organizations like PolitiFact play a vital role in clarifying campaign rhetoric, ensuring that Ohio’s electorate can make informed choices based on the whole truth rather than isolated snapshots.
Original reporting: WLWT Cincinnati — read the source article.
