Read on Twitter
A really interesting debate about *what* scientists and doctors with a public platform should be debunking.
The disagreement: is it more worthwhile to debunk quackery or systemic problems in mainstream medicine? https://twitter.com/gorskon/status/1324384312851079168
The disagreement: is it more worthwhile to debunk quackery or systemic problems in mainstream medicine? https://twitter.com/gorskon/status/1324384312851079168
Short answer: They’re not mutually exclusive. Long answer: Here’s a take I’ve noted via talking about science on the internet. I think one is harder than the other, but both are valuable. And COVID has blurred the line separating them anyway.
What is the purpose of social media medical education? To help people understand choices that affect their health, right? MANY ppl believe in farcical quackery. It’s important to call it out, but I find the echo chambers of social media mean one is mostly preaching to the choir.
Exposing the systemic flaws and corruption in structures most consider to be ‘proper science’ is *really* tough. I often feel out of my depth. And communicating that to the public is also very hard. Wonkish health policy topics attract a certain, quite science-literate audience.
So again, one can end up preaching to the choir. I tend to gravitate to this because I don’t actually care about the audience, I am just trying to educate myself on topics I find interesting! And making a video is a bonus. I don’t find exposing quacks as interesting - to me.
To make the biggest positive impact in medicine, it is these huge problems that hide in plain sight (drug trial design or funding, the way research is published, financial conflicts of interest, health system structures etc) that need attacking.
But! To paint debunking quacks as less important is to miss a key factor about humans. They love it! By far the most common requests I get are to slam dunk on some kook. And I get why, it’s fun! Entertaining ppl is a great way to engage them in science.
Dismantling a silly health claim by a celebrity is a good way to show someone that they already possess the common sense tools to critique health headlines they read. Today it’s a jade egg, but by applying science you can show someone to be sceptical of a fad diet tomorrow.
This year has seen unprecedented levels of garbage medicine in the media and scientific press. There is no longer a differentiation between alt med, junk med and real med. All those who promote science and good sense, and avoid scaremongering, are helping.
