Information is so scattered and spread with certain agendas, it is really hard to know what's real. This is why i said I like people who are ”soft core", it allows for discussion, brainstorm, sharing of ideas.
Is there a wide collection of more recent studies that were done free of corporate interests? Or maybe the last sufficient studies that are looking to find negative effects through real evidence have been discouraged since then? All I know is, I've been fucked around by hospitals in 3 different countries, it was obvious that there was a kind of systematic indifference to my problems even if the doctors personally wanted to help me. And a lot of science is done in the same fashion.
I was on the road to being diagnosed with serious illnesses to explain some chronic discomfort and then i stopped going to doctors and started studying eastern medicine and experimenting on my own body (I know most people wouldn't want to go so far) and now I am finally getting better instead of being diagnosed with a serious disorder of the nervous system.
Anecdotal yes, but still relevant.
I try to always keep two minds about things. The only real problem is when you find people who refuse to admit that they could possibly be wrong, to the point where they don't want to hear the experience and observations of others.
In England, the NHS is so underfunded, doctors are so jaded - especially in the mental health sectors. It just becomes a routine apathy handing out prescriptions and not listening. It took my sister 3 years to actually get a diagnosis. It's pretty insane.
But yeah Doctors aren't Gods, Scientists aren't infallible. We have to watch our own backs and actually learn how to interpret and extrapolate data ourselves, not just take the word of anybody with a PhD.
As you say, and as I said, the issue comes when people are so established in their view, surrounded by yes men, there's nothing valuable to get from that. Dead end. Doors need to be open no matter what. Like in the 70's
The doors of perception ? ;-)