loppear reviewed Blind Spots by Marty Makary
deeply undermines itself
2 stars
Clear thesis that medicine by opinion and reputation-driven dogma harms us rather than saying "we don't know" and seeking evidence in basic research. Chapter case studies of past opinion-driven tragedies - infant peanut allergy guidelines, discouraging hormone replacement therapy, low-fat low cholesterol diet for heart health, blood bank testing for HIV - are presented with institutional context and evidence, while other case studies may be less supported. However, rather than solid advice for evaluating evidence or identifying opinion, or cases of time-tested evidence in scientific medicine, Makarty tragically switches to offering his own declared opinions about what may or may not be "dogma" to be overturned ahead, all with a nod to the "do your own research" crowd he's adopted, including fluoride, gender-affirming care, and covid immunity. What to do about trust in medical consensus and basic research is set aside, leaving us scared and blind towards the future, though …
Clear thesis that medicine by opinion and reputation-driven dogma harms us rather than saying "we don't know" and seeking evidence in basic research. Chapter case studies of past opinion-driven tragedies - infant peanut allergy guidelines, discouraging hormone replacement therapy, low-fat low cholesterol diet for heart health, blood bank testing for HIV - are presented with institutional context and evidence, while other case studies may be less supported. However, rather than solid advice for evaluating evidence or identifying opinion, or cases of time-tested evidence in scientific medicine, Makarty tragically switches to offering his own declared opinions about what may or may not be "dogma" to be overturned ahead, all with a nod to the "do your own research" crowd he's adopted, including fluoride, gender-affirming care, and covid immunity. What to do about trust in medical consensus and basic research is set aside, leaving us scared and blind towards the future, though plausibly still evidence-based and science-promoting.