Charles Krauthammer writes about the health care myths we live by. Antioxidants are supposed to be good for us, but Swedish researchers have found that they make cancers worse in mice. The antioxidant beta-carotene exacerbates lung cancers in humans. One of Rush Limbaugh's favorite things to ridicule is how something we used to think is terrible for you has now been found to be good for you (or visa versa). "Revisionism is common in medicine," writes Krauthammer. Evidence keeps getting in the way of our assumptions.
Krauthammer urges,
we should be a bit more circumspect about having central planners and their assumptions revolutionize by fiat the delicate ecosystem of American health care.
This is not to indict, but simply to advocate for caution grounded in humility. It’s not surprising that myths about the workings of the fabulously complex U.S. health-care system continue to tantalize — and confound — policymakers. After all, Americans so believe in their vitamins/supplements that they swallow $28 billion worth every year.
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