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Sensible Medicine Enters it's 3rd Month

Three months ago, we launched Sensible Medicine. It was always an ambitious idea. Could a group of physicians and scientists— with diverse ideas and backgrounds— run a joint substack?

Now, three months in, we hope to have shown you what Sensible Medicine is all about. We have had 32 guest columnists ranging from students to Emeritus Professors. We have had articles spanning medicine from the human side to articles that re-analyze trials using instrumental variable analysis. Readers have been moved to both tears and awe.

Most importantly: We don’t all agree. Adam Cifu and I nearly came to blows in our debate on colonoscopy. I’ve been steadily investigating his finances in the aftermath, since it is clear to me he is being paid by big bowel prep. Sometimes, the audience doesn’t agree with the writers. John Mandrola stepped into a hormone replacement therapy land mine. Two writers wanted to clarify and criticize his remarks, and we published both those pieces.

We also have pushed the boundaries. Tracy Beth Hoeg provided a balanced view of the Florida excess death in young men study. Raya Leibowitz was intensely critical of her country's— Israel’s—draconian COVID 19 policy. Katie Sharff, an ID doctor, talked about how irrational COVID19 policy affected her children. I have never read similar articles in the lay media, who increasingly confuse evidence and politics, and present the ‘one true opinion’ on matters that remain subject to dispute.

Ultimately, Sensible medicine set out with simple rules:

“If an article is signed by an individual, then they alone take ownership of it.”

“Our goal is a showcase a range of ideas and opinions, and we may disagree with each other. Once upon a time, medicine involved deep and spirited debates. We hope to return to a vigorous dialog.”

I think we are meeting this mark. If you like our experiment and want to support us become a subscriber. I am going to put the paywall here, and below it will be a special observation of mine for people who subscribe. I’ve been saving this one.