URBAN LEGENDS IN MEDICINE
WHO IS REALLY TELLING THE TALES ? AUTHOR John David Kolter , MD
We are in the midst of a difficult year filled with events that are challenging cultural norms as reliably as the norms themselves . At the same time , a wealth of information is at our fingertips , arguably more than ever in history , to assist our navigation . The validity of that information can be dubious . “ Wives ’ tales ” purportedly offer a counterpoint to our current epoch , a comforting anecdote often passed verbally , as a usable solution to one of life ’ s many problems . Though comforting , almost any physician can recount an undesirable outcome or delay in presentation due to a patient ’ s reliance on a “ wives ’ tale ” treatment . Moreover , as our current times glaringly remind us , the term incorrectly assigns unverifiable information to particular persona , gender and imagery . In the age of “ alternative facts ” and social media interactions , the assigning of tales to a singular , presumed chatty , gender stereotype seems woefully outdated , smacks of male chauvinism and is simply inaccurate . “ Wives ’ tales ” in contemporary society not only are epicene , but they can hold real danger when amplified by social interactions on media platforms .
Tales are viewed as stories that are not necessarily verifiable or reproducible , counter to the cornerstones of verifiable data on which our current medical practice stands . However , unlike solid and sterile academic data , “ wives ’ tales ” conjure images of a trusted woman with omniscient qualities imparting learned wisdom and solutions . Indeed , there is comfort in nesting in the knowledge of a wise , caring woman , even if we can ’ t confirm the truth behind the tale being told . The whole idea is quaint . In “ wives ’ tales ” we are to assume an element of trust , even magical thinking , in believing the wisdom imparted . Magical thinking , though common in children and toddlers , decreases as one ages — presumably from accumulation of knowledge and learned experience . We allow this
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