One of the most prolific myths of our modern medical system is that doctors are infallible. The white coat psychologically makes them so superior to us that we have no right to question them. At least in part this myth is driven by the medical establishment’s hubris, often ignoring or manipulating scientific clinical research, or worse establishing clinical practices that have no research to support them. Another driver is the business of the modern health care system. Doctors are coerced to do more, prescribe more, and to refer up the health care food chain of specialists in order to get paid. There are more than 9,0000 medical billing codes for medical procedures and units of care, but not one billing code for patient adherence or improvement in health. We don’t pay doctors to make people well. We only reward them to repeatedly treat symptoms.
Ken Barry, MD authored a book entitled Lies My Doctor Told Me. Medical Myths That Can Harm Your Health. The book dispels myths found in conventional medicine and the big food industry and their impact on the current state of health in our country. It also addresses the common use of outdated medical information and the reluctance to embrace new clinical research.
Marty Makary, MD, our new FDA commissioner, authored his latest book entitled Blind Spots. When Medicine Gets It Wrong, and What It Means for Our Health. The book examines misconceptions and flawed thinking in modern clinical practice and the requirement to continually reevaluate established practices based on new clinical evidence. The book also explores how cognitive dissonance and groupthink within the medical community slows progress in medicine by silencing dissenting opinions in the medical world.
Recently Dr. Barry interviewed Dr. Makary for his YouTube channel. It is a fascinating discussion on what’s really going on in the current health care system. And if you’re an employer watching this you may be able to incorporate this discussion into why your employee health plan costs increase every year. Click on the link below to watch the interview, then find their books and add them to your business library.