The Lethal Reach of Medical Misinformation

The episode explores how medical misinformation has consistently led to detrimental health outcomes and fatalities throughout history. It presents numerous examples, ranging from early 20th-century patent medicine scams like Radithor to modern-day phenomena such as the opioid crisis, anti-vaccine movements, and the promotion of unproven alternative therapies. The episode highlights how corporate deception, regulatory failures, the exploitation of public trust, and the amplification of falsehoods through digital platforms are key mechanisms contributing to preventable suffering and death. A recent and chilling example, the CDC Atlanta shooting, illustrates how misinformation can even escalate from health decisions to direct violence and loss of life.