The doctor, the patient and... the podcaster?
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The dynamic in the exam room is changing as more people show up ready to talk about what they have heard on podcasts.
ILLUSTRATION: ZACH HACKMAN/NYTIMES
Jamie Ducharme
- Podcasts are changing doctor-patient conversations, with patients using them to gain more control and challenge medical advice.
- Some doctors embrace podcasts by recommending vetted episodes, but many struggle with misinformation from unqualified influencers promoting unproven treatments.
- Doctors warn that trusting unreliable sources can lead to dangerous health decisions and mistrust in medicine.
AI generated
NEW YORK – A few years ago, Jenny Ip found herself in a cardiologist’s office after her bloodwork showed her cholesterol levels had shot up. The doctor asked her a few questions about her lifestyle and then recommended a statin, Ip recalled.
But Ip, now 46, wanted more testing before starting a new medication. Her doctor was not convinced it was necessary. To persuade him, she sent him an episode of The Peter Attia Drive podcast that discussed women’s heart health, noting the exact time stamp of the point she wanted him to hear.
