See also (with no overlap in authors): The case for medical nihilism and “gentle medicine” (Richard Smith's review of book by Jacob Stegenga): https://blogs.bmj

See also (with no overlap in authors): The case for medical nihilism and “gentle medicine” (Richard Smith's review of book by Jacob Stegenga): https://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2018/06/04/richard-smith-the-case-for-medical-nihilism-and-gentle-medicine/ https://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2018/06/04/richard-smith-the-case-... > Most practising doctors are, I believe, instinctive medical nihilists even if they would never use that term: they know the limitations of magic bullets, are highly sceptical of claims for new drugs, and recognise the importance of the human as opposed to the technical. Some patients and politicians are also medical nihilists, but most are not. They are the group who would benefit the most from this important book but also, sadly, are perhaps the least likely to read it.