Full Measure After Hours: Dr. Marty Makary and Blind Spots: When Medicine Gets It Wrong and What it Means for Our Health

Release Date: March 6, 2025

Host: Cheryl Akeson
Guest: Dr. Martin Makary

Introduction

In this compelling episode of Full Measure After Hours, host Cheryl Akeson engages in a thought-provoking conversation with Dr. Martin Makary, the FDA Commissioner nominee under Donald Trump and a renowned author. Dr. Makary delves into the critical issues facing modern healthcare, drawing from his latest book, Blind Spots: When Medicine Gets It Wrong and What it Means for Our Health. The discussion unpacks the systemic flaws in the medical establishment, the repercussions of COVID-19 on public trust, and the perilous grip of groupthink in medical innovations.

Dr. Martin Makary: Background and Insights

Dr. Martin Makary is a five-time Emmy award-winning investigative reporter, recipient of the Edward R. Murrow award, and author of two New York Times bestsellers: Stonewalled and The Smear. His extensive experience and unflinching critique of the healthcare system position him as a pivotal voice in advocating for meaningful reforms.

Over-Medication and Misguided Healthcare Strategies

Dr. Makary opens the discussion by critiquing the current state of healthcare, emphasizing the over-reliance on medication and the delivery of ineffective treatments. He asserts, “We have too much healthcare and we're delivering the wrong type of healthcare” (02:00). This over-medication stems from entrenched dogmas and a failure to adapt to evolving scientific understandings.

Key Examples:

• Opioid Epidemic: “We created the opioid epidemic with a dogma that it was not addictive” (01:58).
• Low-Fat Diet: For 60 years, the low-fat diet was promoted, which was counterproductive as obesity rates soared.
• Peanut Allergies: Advising mothers to avoid peanut products inadvertently caused an increase in peanut allergies among children.
• Hormone Replacement Therapy: Despite evidence contradicting long-held beliefs, 90% of doctors still associate hormone replacement therapy with breast cancer, overlooking its potential benefits (02:52).

Blind Spots in Modern Medicine

Dr. Makary highlights the concept of "blind spots" within the medical field—areas where outdated beliefs hinder progress and patient care. He advocates for a paradigm shift towards holistic and preventive measures.

Notable Points:

• Food as Medicine: Emphasizing the role of nutrition in treating diseases, such as diabetes, through cooking classes instead of solely relying on insulin.
• Stress Management: Addressing high blood pressure by improving sleep quality and managing stress, rather than just prescribing antihypertensive medications.
• Microbiome Research: Exploring how gut bacteria influence serotonin production and mental health, challenging traditional views on mental health treatment.
• Postmenopausal Health: Revisiting hormone replacement therapy’s benefits in extending lifespan, reducing heart attack risks, and preventing cognitive decline (04:50).

Dr. Makary underscores the necessity for the medical community to embrace new research and methodologies, moving beyond the constraints of an “elite establishment” that often resists change.

Impact of COVID-19 on Public Trust

The COVID-19 pandemic served as a catalyst, exposing the vulnerabilities and arrogance within the medical establishment. Dr. Makary explains how the pandemic became a turning point for public perception and trust.

Key Insights:

• Government Missteps: The pandemic response was marred by misinformation and inconsistent messaging, such as the promotion of booster shots for low-risk individuals and the controversial stance on mask mandates (05:56).
• Authoritarian Control: The medical establishment's heavy-handed approach, discouraging questions and alternative viewpoints, led to increased public skepticism.
• Rise of Alternative Voices: With traditional channels faltering, more doctors and researchers began sharing divergent opinions on social media and other platforms, challenging the dominant narratives (06:25).

Dr. Makary emphasizes that this erosion of trust has lasting implications, rendering even effective treatments less reliable when public confidence wanes.

Groupthink and mRNA Technology in Vaccines

A significant portion of the discussion centers on the dangers of groupthink within the medical community, particularly regarding the adoption of mRNA technology for vaccines.

Key Points:

• Herd Mentality: The medical establishment’s overwhelming preference for mRNA vaccines limits the exploration of alternative solutions, exemplifying dangerous conformity (09:00).
• Bird Flu Vaccine: Traditional inactivated virus vaccines for bird flu have proven effective in animals and are past phase one human trials. However, the focus remains on developing mRNA-based solutions due to existing contracts with companies like Moderna, sidelining potentially more effective traditional vaccines (09:33).
• Consequences of Groupthink: This rigidity stifles innovation and prevents the medical community from addressing health crises with the most appropriate tools, highlighting a critical blind spot in medical strategy (09:42).

Dr. Makary warns that such adherence to a singular technological approach undermines the potential for comprehensive and effective healthcare solutions.

Profit Motives in Healthcare Narratives

The conversation also delves into the intricate web of profit motives that influence medical recommendations and public health policies.

Critical Observations:

• Close Ties Between NIH, Big Pharma, and FDA: Dr. Makary points out the blurred lines and conflicts of interest between regulatory bodies and pharmaceutical companies, leading to biased health recommendations (11:06).
• Example of Paxlovid: Despite studies showing limited effectiveness for individuals under 65, the FDA and pharmaceutical companies continued aggressive promotion and distribution, prioritizing profits over transparent information dissemination (11:06).
• Suppression of Negative Findings: Favorable trial results are rapidly publicized, while unfavorable outcomes are often concealed or delayed, skewing public perception and trust in medical interventions.

Dr. Makary critiques the lack of accountability and transparency, urging for a more ethical and evidence-based approach in medical research and public health policies.

Conclusion and Final Thoughts

In wrapping up the discussion, Dr. Makary underscores the critical need for humility and openness within the medical community. He advocates for empowering patients to ask informed questions and seek out diverse sources of information to navigate the complexities of modern healthcare.

Final Remarks: “There’s so much in healthcare where people are lost. They don’t know what to believe... they should ask good questions” (14:43).
Dr. Makary’s Blind Spots aims to illuminate these hidden flaws and equip individuals with the knowledge to make informed health decisions, challenging the medical establishment to evolve and prioritize genuine patient welfare over entrenched interests.

Takeaways for Listeners

• Question Established Dogmas: Encourage critical thinking and skepticism towards long-held medical beliefs that may no longer be supported by current research.
• Embrace Holistic Health Approaches: Advocate for preventive measures and lifestyle changes as foundational pillars of healthcare.
• Demand Transparency: Call for greater accountability and honesty from pharmaceutical companies and regulatory bodies.
• Foster Public Trust: Recognize the importance of rebuilding trust through humility, open dialogue, and evidence-based practices.

Dr. Makary’s insights serve as a clarion call for reforming the healthcare system to better serve the public’s health and well-being, urging both medical professionals and patients to re-examine and challenge the status quo.

Further Resources:

• Book: Blind Spots: When Medicine Gets It Wrong and What it Means for Our Health by Dr. Martin Makary
• Podcast: Full Measure After Hours
• Author's Website: SharylAttkisson.com