What do Doctors Know?

What do doctors know? Less than we think they do. Less than they probably should. Even though doctors say they want to help patients, the entire system is designed to make money. It’s designed to keep customers coming back rather than staying away. Studies show that more than 80 percent of doctors don’t have the required statistical skills to interpret test results, let alone figure out which drugs you should be taking. Drug companies help them do that with constant messaging and outreach.

Most doctors are good people, but they stay inside the system. Your doctor may tell you that you can’t build more bone as you age; you should take bisphosphenates. He or she will tell you they reduce your relative risk of breaking a bone dramatically, by more than 36 percent.

Wow, 36 percent is a huge reduction of risk, right?

Wrong. An article in the American Journal of Medicine called “Reconsidering the benefits of osteoporosis treatment” said:

“When the baseline risk is low, use of relative risk alone is likely misleading. According to the review conducted by the ACP, the relative risk reduction of hip fractures with bisphosphonate treatment for at least 3 years is 36%; however, the absolute risk reduction is only 0.6%. Framed as number needed to treat, 167 patients need to be treated for 3 years to prevent one hip fracture.”

Imagine you study 500 people and, over one year, there are 3 hip fractures. That’s a 1 percent fracture rate. Give another group of 500 people Boniva or Fosamax, and that group has 2 fractures in one year. Wow, that’s a 36 percent reduction!! All of this is rigged to provide that 36 percent number they can use in their advertising. They choose a low number of patients, a short time period, and do enough studies until they find the number they are looking for. If your doctor doesn’t understand this is just marketing, you need a better doctor.

For osteoporosis, we have one. His name is Doug Lucas. He’s the author of “**The Osteoporosis Breakthrough: The Natural Way to Reverse Causes of Bone Loss and Build Strong Bones!” I’ll talk more about him in later blog posts.

Peter Attia had a great conversation with Dr Marty Makary on the fundamental flaws in medicine and what can be done about them. As you watch this, think how many of these fallacies your doctor believes:

It takes critical thinking to navigate the healthcare system. Work with me and I’ll help you do just that. Book your first call now.