Casting this problem as an “information war” is counter-productive. It suggests a ground truth among physicians and researchers that doesn’t exist, and perpetuates an us-versus-them relationship with patients.

The deeper problem is that much of medical knowledge is known to be false. Would you describe John Ioannidis, one of the most-cited scientists in clinical medicine, as a “merchant of medical misinformation”?

To have any chance at winning the knowledge war, physicians and researchers need to stop patronizing patients as hapless consumers in need of compelling stories. Instead, we need more rigorous methods of knowledge creation and a culture that supports the illumination and correction of errors.