Joe Rogan doesn't get it: Medical facts aren't up for debate [View all]

[Jilly_in_VA]

Dr. Thomas K. Lew

By the time my patient had reached out for treatment, it was too late.

Laying in her hospital bed, cancer that had originated in her breast had spread to her liver, her lungs and even her brain. She had known about her cancer for years, but did not trust medical doctors for treatment. Instead, she relied on “natural” remedies – vitamins and supplements recommended by communities online, that she could have faith in over “big pharma” and the medical complex. They did not work.

I’ve been thinking about this now deceased woman lately, as I’ve been reading about Joe Rogan’s challenge for a scientist to debate a politician over the benefits of vaccines. The popular podcaster has invited Dr. Peter Hotez, a professor of virology and preeminent vaccine expert, to argue against Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a known vaccine skeptic. Like my misguided patient, many of Rogan’s listeners do not trust medical experts or the best scientific data available, and would rather believe a vaccine skeptic – or at least weigh their testimony equally.

Dr. Hotez is right to call out the misinformation on this widespread podcast, and he is right to not partake in the spectacle that would be this debate. You might think, why wouldn’t he just participate, shut down all the critics, and prove his point – after all, if the scientific data is so strong, wouldn’t it easily persuade listeners over any point RFK Jr. could make?

https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/voices/2023/06/25/rogan-debate-challenge-shows-why-covid-misinformation-thrives/70347479007/

I think most of us here on DU hate Big Pharma too, but we're also not stupid. There are an ungodly lot of stupid people out there.