A doctor in a white coat, with a stethoscope around his neck, types on a keyboard at a desk. Behind him is a medical examination room with a blue bed and an IV stand. The room is well-lit, highlighting the doctor's focused expression.

Physician Misinformation

When physicians spread medical misinformation, the potential harm to health is far greater than their direct patient care. And yet, in a recent study, medical boards rarely discipline physicians for spreading misinformation. The JAMA article looked at 3128 medical board disciplinary proceedings involving physicians. Spreading misinformation to the community was the least common reason, at 0.1%. Direct patient misinformation and inappropriate advertising...

/ November 13, 2024
Trump at Madison Square Garden

Donald Trump won. Now what for science-based federal health policy?

Last week, Donald Trump defeated Kamala Harris and will return to the White House in January. What does this mean for science-based federal health policy? Hint: Nothing good. Just like the rest of the government, the worst people are likely to be in charge of health and science policy.

/ November 11, 2024

Dr. Vinay Prasad: “I Don’t Believe in Forgiveness Because in My Opinion These Pieces of Shit Are Still Lying.”

Mass purges and prosecutions of scientists have happened before. We shouldn't pretend they can't happen here.

/ November 10, 2024

Robert Kennedy Jr. & His Doctor Friends May Just Be Getting Started

Doctors who are concerned about members of our profession enabling powerful anti-vaxx disinformation agents should speak up before it's too late. But its probably too late already.

/ November 8, 2024
Close-up of raw, rolled oats displaying their flat, oval shape with beige and white shades. The texture appears dry and flaky, typical of uncooked oatmeal.

Some Data on Fluoride

David Gorski wrote yesterday about the threat that a second Trump term holds for American health, specifically if he keeps his promise to give RFK Jr. some high level position over public health. Unfortunately, we have seen this movie before, although the sequel promises to be much worse. Putting a pseudoscientist, crank, conspiracy theorist, anti-vaxxer in charge of the organizations that are...

/ November 6, 2024
Extinction-level event. Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.

RFK Jr. is now an extinction-level threat to federal public health programs and science-based health policy

A week ago, Donald Trump said that, if elected, he would let Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. "go wild" on healthcare. RFK Jr. has said that he'd immediately remove fluoride from drinking water, while surrogates say he'd work to prove vaccines unsafe. This is why a Trump Presidency could represent an extinction-level event for science-based federal health policy.

/ November 4, 2024
A grayscale image of a man wearing glasses and a suit, speaking into a microphone against a black background.

Bhattacharya for the CDC?

The Stanford health economist turned right-wing pandemic star could help take down academia and scientific institutions in a second Trump administration

/ November 3, 2024

If RFK Jr. Turns the CDC Into An Anti-Vaxx Propaganda Outfit, I Don’t Want To Hear a Peep From Some “Respectable” Doctors

Any doctor who is unabashedly pro-vaccine has already spoken up about the normalization of anti-vaxx quackery within our ranks.

/ November 1, 2024
An individual labeled as Dr. Daszak is speaking at a formal meeting, seated at a table with microphones and documents. Several people in suits are sitting in the background.

EcoHealth Alliance Fights Back

The organization scapegoated by the lab leak-promoting GOP-led House Covid subcommittee publishes its defense

/ October 31, 2024