PHOTO: GETTY IMAGESMany studies have found that people tend to overestimate the benefits of medical treatments and underestimate the harms. Could media coverage be one reason for the overoptimism about medical treatment? Within the study period, the authors found 30 media articles about treatments for a range of conditions, including nine for neurological disorders and six for cancer. Nineteen were medical treatments, and 11 were surgical. Maybe we should all try to be less like Trump and understand that miracle cures are unlikely and that all medical treatments have both costs and benefits.

Source: Otago Daily Times December 06, 2020 14:26 UTC