The beauty of a dandelion captivates anybody who looks at it. While seemingly harmless, upon closer inspection one will find that its enchanting seeds serve only as a means of propagating the weed.
Medical misinformation behaves the same way.
The longstanding public distrust in medical professionals is nothing new. In the years after the COVID-19 pandemic, misinformation became a massive threat to modern medicine. What makes these issues especially dangerous is the political voices behind them. Voices like Dr. Ryan Cole, a licensed physician and board-certified clinical pathologist whose political platform has propelled a new wave of medical misinformation in Idaho.
This misinformation threatens to hurt our rural communities even more than before. 38% of rural physicians reported encountering “a great deal” of misinformation among their patients according to The Physicians Foundation. This is due to systemic barriers such as distance, financial strain and physician mistrust.
Misinformation is especially rampant in Idaho, with over 28% of residents living in rural areas of the state according to the Idaho Department of Labor. The vulnerability of these areas make it easy for politicians to appeal to already growing public distrust in scientific guidance.
A resounding example of this is the re-appointment of Dr. Ryan Cole on the Central District Health Board, a multi-county regional organization that serves Ada, Boise, Elmore and Valley county. In the past, Dr. Cole’s position in the medical field has been met with distrust due to his long-standing vocal opposition to vaccines, mask mandates and hospital treatments.
Dr. Ryan Cole’s growing platform on social media and news outlets creates a space for him to continuously promote misinformation. The Washington Medical Commissions reported Dr. Ryan Cole abused his position as a doctor by making false statements on COVID-19 vaccines and mask effectiveness. Along with this, he provided patients with ivermectin to treat COVID-19 without meeting the patient to document past history and informed consent. It’s important to ask if these actions are representative of the District Health Board in our counties.
What makes a politician’s platform especially dangerous, is when they hold no repercussions for the public discrediting of scientifically proven research. Instead those challenges fall on medical professionals all around the state. Michael Kunz, a supervisor of laboratory operations at Saint Luke’s Boise Medical Center, has witnessed the growth of misinformation throughout his career.
“Medical misinformation can contribute to delayed care, preventable illness and even harm from ineffective or harmful treatment/medication.” said Kunz “Not only threatening individual wellness but also public health infrastructure.”
As politicians continue to use their platform to denounce and discredit scientific research, we lose trust in the licensed professionals who hold together the fabric of our communities. This new generation of doctors, physicians, researchers and lab scientists carry a great deal of responsibility in entering a field that has been overrun with the erosion of public trust.
Nimo Abdi, a senior undergraduate student at the College of Idaho studying Biomedical Sciences and Philosophy describes how this rapid growth fails to meet the expectations of citizens.
“Politcal bodies hold the ultimate power not only in funding a healthcare system, but also in building an infrastructure that will truly serve the people,” said Abdi. “Our greatest solutions are built by turning our frustrations and passions into actionable change for all.”
Madison Kincaid, president of the pre-med club at Boise State provides a similar statement.
“It motivates me to be the change and not let misinformation taint people’s view on healthcare,” said Kincaid. “As someone in healthcare, I do value the people we work with and the people that are taking care of others.”
Kincaid explains that as a student entering this field, the constant erosion of patient and doctor trust is strong reasons she believes her work is important. Students studying to work in the medical field like Kincaid and Abdi serve as reminders that misinformation actively threatens the future of medicine in Idaho.
When individuals such as Ryan Cole blur the line between presenting as a doctor vs a politician, it propels false ideas into a position of power. When we fail to recognize the harm that politicians can do to the medical field, we open the chances of continual misinformation and neglect in our state.
The responsibility of acknowledging the importance of scientific guidance falls on our politicians to ensure they understand the communities they represent. Dr. Ryan Cole has continuously proved disregard for factual guidance. The future of medicine belongs in the hands of those who are willing to preserve it, not hurt it.
