Recently, I was unexpectedly labeled online as a “Liberal,” which left me utterly astonished. How did I arrive at this point? As a physician, my weekly routine involves researching journal articles, grasping new guidelines, and making recommendations. Last week, the guidelines I reviewed had a direct impact on the safety of my child, prompting me to collaborate with my fellow physicians to draft a letter urging adherence to the recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Centers for Disease Control. Our collective goal was clear: to ensure a safe return to school for all children by advocating for mask-wearing indoors.
However, several doctors who signed the letter faced backlash, including angry anonymous calls, and some colleagues criticized their involvement. This made me question whether I was naïve to think that evidence-based medicine stood alone, free from political association. As I sat with my cooling scones, I pondered why adhering to medical guidelines has been politicized.
Today, guidelines and recommendations in healthcare are highly scrutinized and publicized. The protocols for managing COVID are relatively new and still being tested. Yet, the outcry against evidence-based treatments raises questions: Are those who criticize me suggesting they would forgo any evidence-backed medical care?
A childhood friend recently sought my advice regarding her mother’s newly discovered breast mass. I could have suggested an unconventional treatment, but instead, I referred her to a respected surgeon, adhering to established management guidelines. In that instance, was I acting as a physician or as a “Liberal”?
At my medical training at Harvard, we had a saying: if there are no side effects, does it even work? This highlights the need for comprehensive risk-benefit analysis in medicine, which is why doctors rely on established recommendations and continuous education to maintain their licenses.
The negative response to following evidence-based recommendations shouldn’t have surprised me, yet it did. We have straightforward, accessible ways to protect ourselves and those around us through masking and vaccination. Some individuals face barriers to these protections, but we, who can, should choose to safeguard one another, even if it requires personal inconvenience.
As I reflect on these events, I feel a deep sadness. Is being a responsible citizen who follows guidelines now viewed as a political act? Are we truly living in a time where the ancient principle of looking out for one another has become a partisan issue?
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In summary, the intersection of medicine and politics raises complex questions about how we view evidence-based recommendations. What should be a straightforward commitment to public health and safety has become entangled in political ideologies, making it harder for professionals committed to science and care.
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