3 ms·

What makes you sure doctors are "so easy to manipulate"? Is the general public more immune? Are there many professions that are more immune?

by HWR_14 2y ago

bumby 2y ago
I read the OP as "professionals should be less easily manipulated than the general public because of their background knowledge on the subject". Consider whether most would think a mechanic is more or less easily manipulated into unnecessary vehicle repairs.
- HWR_14 2y ago
  > whether most would think a mechanic is more or less easily manipulated into unnecessary vehicle repairs. That's different. This is closer to a mechanic using a part from Company X in the repairs of their customer's car, because a rep told them it was more durable.
  - bumby 2y ago
    You're right, that's a better example. But wouldn't you expect the mechanic to have a more discerning eye in that case as well? The more contextual knowledge you have, the better you should be able to tell legitimate claims from BS.
    - HWR_14 2y ago
      To catch some BS, sure. I wouldn't expect them to fall for obvious lies. I doubt a mechanic would be significantly educated metallurgy or production techniques to spot BS in part lifespans. Or to spot pseudoscience in air filters. I would expect them to notice their repeat customers not getting the benefits. But keep in mind that doctors saw their patients appearing pain free and high functioning.
      - bumby 2y ago
        You may be right and I may be guilty of hindsight bias, but I would probably put this in the realm of BS. It’s not like opioids were unknown to cause addiction, and when physicians witness the company continuing to up the dosage and wordsmith terms like “breakthrough pain” I would expect a cognizant doctor to be throwing red flags. To overextend the mechanic metaphor, it would be like making a part out of aluminum and claiming it has infinite fatigue life. We know aluminum doesn’t so the threshold of evidence needs to be very, very high or the mechanic should remain skeptical. If the part continues to fail, but the manufacturer keeps making new, novel excuses the mechanic should be throwing the BS flag about their infinite fatigue life claims.

What makes you sure doctors are "so easy to manipulate"? Is the general public more immune? Are there many professions that are more immune?

by HWR_14 2y ago

What makes you sure doctors are "so easy to manipulate"? Is the general public more immune? Are there many professions that are more immune?

bumby 2y ago

I read the OP as "professionals should be less easily manipulated than the general public because of their background knowledge on the subject". Consider whether most would think a mechanic is more or less easily manipulated into unnecessary vehicle repairs.

HWR_14 2y ago
> whether most would think a mechanic is more or less easily manipulated into unnecessary vehicle repairs. That's different. This is closer to a mechanic using a part from Company X in the repairs of their customer's car, because a rep told them it was more durable.
- bumby 2y ago
  You're right, that's a better example. But wouldn't you expect the mechanic to have a more discerning eye in that case as well? The more contextual knowledge you have, the better you should be able to tell legitimate claims from BS.
  - HWR_14 2y ago
    To catch some BS, sure. I wouldn't expect them to fall for obvious lies. I doubt a mechanic would be significantly educated metallurgy or production techniques to spot BS in part lifespans. Or to spot pseudoscience in air filters. I would expect them to notice their repeat customers not getting the benefits. But keep in mind that doctors saw their patients appearing pain free and high functioning.
    - bumby 2y ago
      You may be right and I may be guilty of hindsight bias, but I would probably put this in the realm of BS. It’s not like opioids were unknown to cause addiction, and when physicians witness the company continuing to up the dosage and wordsmith terms like “breakthrough pain” I would expect a cognizant doctor to be throwing red flags. To overextend the mechanic metaphor, it would be like making a part out of aluminum and claiming it has infinite fatigue life. We know aluminum doesn’t so the threshold of evidence needs to be very, very high or the mechanic should remain skeptical. If the part continues to fail, but the manufacturer keeps making new, novel excuses the mechanic should be throwing the BS flag about their infinite fatigue life claims.