Results for: COVID-19

Homeopathy: Magical thinking, not medicine

The Science-Based Medicine blog was established way back in 2008. Since that time, contributors to this blog have been sounding the alarm about the harmful effects of pseudoscience and conspiracy theories related to health. Few people in positions of authority heeded these warnings or recognized the severity of the threat over the next decade. Sometimes we as health professionals were even mocked...

/ December 19, 2024
An NIH study section

Are NIH study sections a waste of time?

Since the nomination of Dr. Jay Bhattacharya for NIH Director, I've been seeing a suggestion from certain contrarian doctors for a "randomized trial" of study sections vs. a "modified lottery" to determine which grant applications are funded by the NIH. Just what the heck is Dr. Vinay Prasad talking about?

/ December 9, 2024

Questions For Senators to Ask Drs. Marty Makary and Jay Bhattacharya

Yesterday, Dr. David Gorksi invited us to come up with questions for Senators to ask our future public health leaders. Here are mine.

/ December 3, 2024
confirmation hearing

Suggested questions for Donald Trump’s health nominees during confirmation hearings

It won't be long before we're treated to the spectacle of Senators grilling antivax nominees like Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (HHS) and Dr. Dave Weldon (CDC). We exist to serve, which is why I'm suggesting some questions for Senators to ask all of Trump's health picks.

/ December 2, 2024
RFK Jr. and Donald Trump's health picks vs. vaccination

Antivaxxers, grifters, and quacks: RFK Jr.’s MAHA takes over federal health agencies

President-Elect Donald Trump has now announced most of picks to lead critical federal health agencies. These picks predictably prioritize grift, quackery, and antivax ideology.

/ November 25, 2024

Laptop Class Doctors Think Doctors Who Treat Patients Are Lazy, Dumb, Cowardly, Sheep

Had laptop class doctors been willing to listen to doctors who worked on COVID units, they wouldn't have said so many absurd things.

/ November 22, 2024
A black-and-white photo of a person dressed in an elaborate costume, standing and holding a skull in one hand. The backdrop has a cloudy sky. The style suggests a theatrical setting.

A New DC Degree. What the World Needs Now.

Perhaps the neck manipulation was a bit too aggressive.

/ November 19, 2024
National Institutes of Health (NIH).

RFK Jr. vs. the NIH: Say goodbye to the greatest engine of biomedical research ever created

President-Elect Donald Trump has nominated antivaccine activist and anti-pharma conspiracy theorist Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. to be Secretary of Health and Human Services. I've written about the damage he will do, if confirmed, to the CDC and FDA, but what about NIH, the greatest engine of biomedical research ever?

/ November 18, 2024
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