‘He’s Not the Guy to Go to, to Get the Best Medical Info’: What We Heard This Week

“Maybe he’s not the guy to go to, to get the best medical information.” — Paul Offit, MD, of the Vaccine Education Center at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, responding to childhood immunization claims made by President Trump in a recent executive order on vaccines.

“I just don’t know if it was ever a model that was going to work.” — David Fleischer, MD, of the University of Colorado Anschutz, on the discontinuation of the only FDA-approved oral immunotherapy for pediatric peanut allergies.

“These data … indicate that actually a much higher percentage of people that get exposed to cannabis are becoming addicted to it.” — Nora Volkow, MD, of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, discussing data that showed a rising prevalence of cannabis use disorder.

“There’s really no evidence that these energy drinks improve health … in any circumstance.” — Gregory Marcus, MD, of the University of California San Francisco, as experts urged the National Collegiate Athletic Association to sever its marketing ties with energy drink makers.

“Our results should not be interpreted as recommending weight gain or suggesting that obesity is harmless in later life.” — Bryan Blissmer, PhD, of the University of Rhode Island in Kingston, regarding findings that body mass index alone inadequately stratified mortality risk in older adults.

“I think it can help enhance strength gains.” — Brian DeVeaux, DPT, of Northwell STARS Rehabilitation and Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York, discussing potential benefits of creatine supplements.

“Standard scientific and political procedures are not being followed, and you can’t let that lie.” — Christopher Gardner, PhD, of Stanford University in California, talking about a physician group that’s suing HHS over updated dietary guidelines.

“It’s a twin responsibility — providing it and making sure [it’s done] in a way that people can understand it.” — José Pagán, PhD, of the NYU School of Global Public Health, on findings that while patients eagerly check their medical test results online, many struggle to comprehend them.