Demasi produced and presented two controversial episodes on the science program Catalyst, called "The Heart of the Matter", in October 2013, which questioned the link between cholesterol, cholesterol-reducing medication and ill-health. A large number of individuals and professional organisations within the medical and scientific community responded to the show negatively and the National Heart Foundation of Australia published a nine-page rebuttal of the claims presented in the program. Demasi was accused of bias by ABC's MediaWatch program and received criticism from national newspapers for incomplete and biased coverage of life-threatening health issues. In response to these allegations, Demasi said that participants in the program had been presented with her material and agreed with her interpretation. The National Heart Foundation responded, saying that Demasi had not presented the research, ignored and misinterpreted the information provided and selectively edited quotes to invert their meaning. In May 2014 the ABC removed the two episodes from its website. after an internal review found that both programs met the ABC editorial standards for factual accuracy, though a section in the second episode breached standards of impartiality. The report also found that the programs were not found to cause any undue harm to the public and took adequate steps to ensure people did not cease their medications without consulting their doctor. Despite the finding of the ABC's report, the MJA claimed that there was a temporary increase in discontinuation of statins and a sustained decrease in the dispensing of statins immediately following the broadcast of the program. Demasi disputed claims that her program "could cause death" and published a rebuttal. According to a Cochrane systematic review on statins for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease, "the decision for patients at low risk for CVD to initiate or continue statin therapy for primary prevention remains under the purview of patients and their physicians". A subsequent 2019 analysis was more explicit. It suggests that statins are beneficial for high-risk groups but are otherwise non-beneficially over-prescribed and may be harmful.
"Wi-Fried" episode
Demasi produced a report in a February 2016 episode of Catalyst called "Wi-Fried" on Wi-Fi and cellphone safety. In her report she detailed the scientific debate about health effects from low level exposures and she raised questions about the long term effects of low level microwave exposures in schools. Her report shows a school where the Wi-Fi routers are turned off when not in use to reduce microwave radiation exposure. Her report was described as unbalanced by Media Watch, criticised by the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency and in the media by groups and scientists who have long believed it is impossible for microwave radiation to have effects at low levels. Demasi defended her report in an article in The Guardian and responded to specific criticism in the Huffington Post. Catalyst also defended the episode in a letter to Media Watch. Demasi was stood down as a reporter and the program was placed under review. A public on-air apology statement was broadcast on the ABC on 5 July 2016 and the episode was withdrawn from the ABC's website.
In 2014 while working from home, she went out running and had an accident which broke her hip. In 2016 she attempted to claim workers compensation for the injury, but the claim was rejected.
