How can we improve the quality of care our patients receive if we are unwilling to acknowledge our cognitive dissonance and engage in educated discourse?

Misinformation is dangerous and it destroys trust in the medical system. I believe a significant amount of misinformation is unintentional, but that doesn't make it any less dangerous. Cognitive dissonance is the profound mental discomfort that arises when presented with evidence that directly contradicts one's deeply ingrained, established beliefs. This discomfort fuels confirmation bias, maintaining outdated dogma and often leading to the continuation of ineffective or potentially harmful treatments.

The challenge of Cognitive Dissonance is formidable, but surmountable. It requires professional humility, the willingness to acknowledge that what we once believed may no longer be true. Our duty is to provide transparent, coherent education, illuminating the profound difference between the old dogma and the new science. To truly progress and deliver optimal outcomes, we must embrace intellectual humility and let go of our cognitive dissonance. We must abandon this fast, comfortable thinking and confront the harsh reality of flawed historical teaching, enabling us to embrace the truth of the current science, regardless of how uncomfortable it makes us or our peers.