This chapter explores the controversial topic of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for postmenopausal women, highlighting how misinformation and fear have shaped public perceptions and medical guidelines. It discusses the significant benefits associated with estrogen replacement while critiquing the medical community's response to past research linking HRT with breast cancer. The conversation emphasizes the need for transparency, rational engagement with medical knowledge, and the recognition of personal biases in health-related decision-making.
Johns Hopkins surgeon Dr. Marty Makary talks about his book Blind Spots with EconTalk's Russ Roberts. Makary argues that the medical establishment too often makes unsupported recommendations for treatment while condemning treatments and approaches that can make us healthier. This is a sobering and informative exploration of a number of key findings in medicine that turned out to be wrong and based on insufficient evidence.