Succeed in Medicine

PT2 with Dr. Jonathan Howard: The Allure of Being a COVID Contrarian

26min | 09/21/2023

Description

This episode is sponsored by KyurMD.com – technically advanced medical apparel.

In the second part of the "We Want Them Infected" series, Dr. Jonathan Howard delves into the allure of the anti-vaccine movement among doctors. He explores the psychological factors, including the pursuit of fame and financial gain, that drive some doctors to embrace contrarian views. Audience capture, a phenomenon where public personalities echo the sentiments of their followers, is discussed as a key factor that reinforces extreme stances and perpetuates misinformation. The episode draws parallels to how public figures like Donald Trump can also fall prey to audience capture.

Looking for something specific? Here you go!

00:01 - Introduction to Part Two of "We Want Them Infected"

00:26 - Discussion on the allure of contrarianism and audience capture

01:56 - Comparing audience capture to Donald Trump's changing stances

03:01 - Strategies to prevent falling into the trap of audience capture

03:43 - The importance of humility and openness to correction

06:16 - Engaging respectfully in disagreements on social media

08:12 - The "IKEA effect" and recognizing biases in our ideas

10:07 - Examining arguments used by anti-vaxxers against COVID vaccines

14:15 - Critiquing the demand for more randomized controlled trials

16:01 - The shifting goalposts of critics

18:14 - Reactions of doctors mentioned in the book

20:53 - The consequences of misinformation and what gives hope

24:43 - Encouragement for doctors to speak out against medical misinformation

More on Dr. Howard:

A distinguished author, Dr. Howard has penned several authoritative textbooks on neurology. Notably, he is the writer behind Cognitive Errors and Diagnostic Mistakes: A Case-Based Guide to Critical Thinking in Medicine. Well before the pandemic emerged, Dr. Howard had a deep-rooted interest in vaccines and the counter-vaccine movement. Preceding the global health crisis, he was a co-author for a book chapter titled The Anti-Vaccine Movement: A Litany of Fallacy and Errors.

Throughout the pandemic, he has been actively contributing to the discourse on the mainstream acceptance of anti-vaccine sentiments within the medical field.

His writings on this matter can be found on Science Based Medicine. Moreover, he has collaborated on research papers focused on the neurological implications of COVID-19 patients and the vaccination process for individuals with multiple sclerosis.

Find Dr. Howard on his LinkedIn.

Did ya know…

You can also be a guest on our show? Please email me at brad@physiciansguidetodoctoring.com to connect or visit www.physiciansguidetodoctoring.com to learn more about the show!

Socials:

@physiciansguidetodoctoring on FB

@physicianguidetodoctoring on YouTube

@physiciansguide on Instagram and Twitter

Visit www.physiciansguidetodoctoring.com to connect, dive deeper, and keep the conversation going. Let’s grow!

Disclaimer:

This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical, financial, or legal advice. Always consult a qualified professional for personalized guidance.

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

About Succeed in Medicine

Was your training enough to handle everything physician life demands? From lawsuits to leadership, career decisions to challenging conversations, balancing the personal with the professional — not enough was addressed in medical school, residency or fellowship. This show fills those gaps so you can live up to the expectations that come with the white coat — not just in the exam room, but in all the places your MD follows you. Your host, Dr. Bradley Block, a private practice ENT, is right there with you — navigating the same challenges and bringing in world-class guests to teach, as he puts it, “everything we should have been learning while we were memorizing Kreb’s cycle.” With nearly 500 episodes and close to half a million downloads, Brad has built a trusted space where physicians come for brass-tacks, immediately-applicable advice. You don’t need another certification. You need a podcast that covers personal finance, private practice, side-gigs, main-gigs, reacting to bad reviews, misinformation, social media, charting, parenting, communicating, negotiating, leading, managing, teaching, learning and what to do when someone yells, “Is there a doctor on board?”