Rationally Speaking Podcast Rationally Speaking #92 - Dr. Paul Offit On Believing in Magic
Sep 15, 2013
Dr. Paul Offit, an award-winning specialist in vaccines and author of "Do You Believe in Magic?", dives into the allure of alternative medicine and its mainstream acceptance. He discusses the ethical challenges between hope and honesty in healing, the regulatory shortcomings of dietary supplements, and the enduring myths around vaccines. Offit also critiques celebrity influence on health claims and emphasizes the importance of evidence-based medicine, urging listeners to be skeptical of unregulated practices.
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Belief in Magic
- People need to believe in something greater than themselves, especially in medicine.
- Gurus like Oz and Chopra offer certainty, which is appealing but can lead to bad decisions.
Balancing Hope and Reality
- Doctors balance optimism and realism when giving diagnoses and prognoses.
- While hope is important, patients also need to be prepared for potential outcomes.
The Wakefield Example
- Andrew Wakefield remains certain about the MMR-autism link despite overwhelming evidence against it.
- This unwavering certainty attracts followers, highlighting the danger of prioritizing immutability over scientific evidence.
