There are many people who believe they are experts in healthcare.
There are many Dr. Googles out there.
But this is an important statement.
There are no experts that know everything.
There are no gurus who are always correct.
There are very few experts/gurus who don’t have some sort of bias.
Biases aren’t necessarily bad, if you know you have them and you allow yourself to think thru them.
But we should all try to avoid our own biases when it comes to our health.
I used to tell my younger brother all the time.
Stop making things happen. Instead let them happen naturally as they should without pressure, force, coercion or mandates. Well maybe I didn’t say the mandate thing back then but you get my point.
So written below is how I approach healthcare.
Don’t go believing any expert or guru.
Don’t go believing any doctor or someone with many letters after their name that gives them some degree of influence.
Don’t go believing any politician or talking head.
Don’t go believing anyone without seeing proof for yourself.
Don’t go believing anyone without being allowed to ask questions and get real objective answers.
Don’t go believing me without asking questions and making sure you understand what my medical beliefs are as they effect you as an individual.
Some people say that I complain to much about healthcare, especially diet, nutrition and unfortunately COVID.
What some people interpret as complaining I see as questioning to get a better understanding to see if I interpret the information the same as the “experts or gurus”.
Sometimes I do. Sometimes I don’t.
That is OK.
There is usually more than one correct answer.
But shouldn’t we all be allowed to ask questions without fear of retribution or censorship?
No matter what some in the government say, the science is never settled.
Why am I writing this besides to take a break from writing an #IMWChallenge post?
I have issues with well known health “influencers” swaying peoples opinion when they don’t look at all the facts and instead just use data that support their positions.
I call that giving opinions with blinders on.
I would never drive a car with blinders on, nor will I provide medical advice with blinders on.
Health treatments and strategies should not have positions.
Health treatments and strategies should have options and choices, open and transparent dialogue and most of all should have full informed consent.
Health treatments should not have mandates, threats or coercion to comply.
Health treatments should not have perverse incentives that enrich a provider of care even if it may harm the patient.
Gurus and influencers should not talk down to others who believe different, but they do.
Corporations with perverse incentives and politicians with known bias should not have power over your healthcare choices as they rarely have your individual best interest at heart.
So whether it is diet, nutrition, COVID or any other health issue, always ask your questions. Be civil. Respect the answer even if you do not agree with it.
Agree to disagree at times.
Learn from each other.
As the COVID mania appears to hopefully be near the end, let us all work to improve the healthcare system for everyone as an individual where we all have plenty of options and choices without ever again feeling pressured, forced, coerced or mandated to take part in any medical treatment you do not agree with.
I’ve gotten quite a few comments and requests about my beef stew recipe that called for Smoked Balsamic Vinegar and where to find it.
Dr. Horvitz, this is by far the best newsletter I have received from you! I have learned that it is important to listen to all sides of any issue and then decide for myself what is right. Sadly, there are too many others who will not listen to anything other than their narrative. But that is their problem!
Always asking questions has lead me to a second surgeon's opinion on my heart condition. I thank you always for your help as a person and doctor. Doing something you are unsure of is very stressful. Thank you for peace of mind and body, when the rest of the planet is in chaos!