Dr. Alok Kanojia, better known as Dr. K to his Twitch followers, has been officially reprimanded by the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Medicine. The board’s decision comes after a review of Dr. K’s live-streamed sessions with the late streamer Byron “Reckful” Bernstein.
The medical board ruled that Dr. K’s actions “undermined public confidence in the integrity of the medical profession.” They took issue with how Dr. K blurred the lines between entertainment and therapy during his streams with Twitch streamer Reckful.
Dr. K, a Harvard-educated psychiatrist, rose to fame on Twitch for his candid discussions about mental health in the gaming community. His channel, HealthyGamerGG, became a go-to resource for many struggling with mental health issues.
However, his approach came under scrutiny following his interactions with Reckful. The board highlighted specific statements made by Dr. K, including a promise to “try to love” Reckful for two years. This, they argued, could lead viewers to misunderstand the nature of professional therapeutic relationships.
The issue has split the gaming and streaming communities. Some defend Dr. K’s intentions and praise his efforts to raise mental health awareness. Others argue his methods were irresponsible and potentially harmful. After all, a public Twitch stream might not be the right place to discuss such personal topics.
One fan stated, “Reckful needed private therapy, not public sessions. It pains to say, but Reckful had deep psychological issues. Dr. K cannot be blamed for any of it.” However, the board criticizes that Dr. K chose Twitch as a platform for therapy, which harms the reputation of their profession in the public.
The reprimand by the Massachusets Board of Registration in Medicine doesn’t result in Dr. K losing his medical license, but it serves as a formal warning. It could impact his professional reputation and how he conducts future streams. The incident might be a signal for other practitioners not to mix therapy with entertainment in the future.