by Alex McDonald

As a family medicine physician who dabbles in health policy, I’ve spent an inordinate amount of time at the intersection of individual well-being, community health, and local, state and federal policy.

My daily work involves listening, diagnosing, and treating, always with an eye toward prevention and striving to place the patient at the center of my work. But beyond the exam room, my experience in health policy has shown me a troubling trend: the growing and dangerous inclination to allow financial decision or political agendas to overwhelm scientific consensus and evidence-based medicine. This is a path fraught with peril for our communities and our nation.

We are currently at a dangerous and unprecedented place within the culture and politicization of health and science. This threatens the health of the United States, in particularly our most vulnerable, and our ability to lead the world in biomedical sciences and health advances.

The foundation of good health, both individual and public, rests on sound science and good policy, which results from that science. We have eradicated diseases, prolonged lives, and improved the quality of existence for millions because of dedicated researchers, meticulous data analysis, and the pursuit of good public health policy.

Yet, we are now witnessing a disturbing erosion of trust in these very principles, often fueled by partisan divisions and short-sighted political calculations seeking to score political points regardless of the consequences.

History offers stark warnings about the consequences of such choices. Take, for instance, the tragic story of President Thabo Mbeki’s denial of the link between HIV and AIDS in South Africa in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Driven by a politically motivated skepticism of Western science, his government actively discouraged the use of antiretroviral drugs, promoting ineffective traditional remedies instead. The scientific community, both local and international, screamed warnings, but politics held sway. The devastating result? Estimates suggest that Mbeki’s policies led to over 300,000 preventable deaths and countless new infections. This wasn’t a failure of science; it was a catastrophic failure of leadership to embrace science.

Another chilling example can be found in the Soviet Union under Lysenkoism. Trofim Lysenko, a charismatic agricultural scientist, gained political favor with Stalin by promoting his theories of “vernalization” and the inheritance of acquired characteristics, which conveniently aligned with communist ideology. He rejected Mendelian genetics, branding it “bourgeois science.” The result was not only the suppression of brilliant geneticists, some of whom died in gulags, but also widespread agricultural failures, contributing to famines that cost millions of lives. Here, political doctrine actively created its own “science,” with devastating human cost.

These are not mere historical footnotes; they are potent reminders of what happens when political expediency or ideological purity is prioritized over verifiable facts. We see echoes of this today in various forms: the spread of misinformation about vaccines, the politicization of public health measures, and the dismissal of climate science, which has profound implications for future health crises.

As physicians, we are trained to assess evidence, to understand probabilities, and to make decisions that are in the best interest of our patients. We know that medicine is not static; it evolves with new discoveries. But this evolution is built upon a rigorous process of research, peer review, and validation — not on poll numbers or political rhetoric. Furthermore, public sentiment is not based on data or statistics.

The health of our communities, the resilience of our healthcare systems, and the future well-being of our nation depend on scientists’ and physicians’ collective commitment to science and evidence-based medicine. But moreover, the ability to communicate that science and information in a way that evokes emotion, often through stories and examples that move both hearts and minds. When we allow politics and political rhetoric to dictate health policy, we risk not only individual lives but also the very fabric of public trust and the incredible biomedical advancements, quality of life and life expectancy.

Therefore, I issue a fervent call to action.

To my fellow physicians and scientists:

We must speak out, loudly and clearly, against the erosion of scientific integrity. We must educate, advocate, and stand firm in our commitment to evidence. We must use our voices and our platforms to counter misinformation and to champion the rigorous pursuit of truth. We must build trust and connections with our patients and our community. Lastly, and most importantly, we must communicate and connect with the public and leaders to share stories which will be memorable, evoke emotion and resonate.

To the public:

Demand that your leaders base their decisions on facts, not on political convenience. Seek out credible sources of information. Be critical of claims that lack scientific backing. Support institutions and individuals who uphold scientific principles. Reject those who peddle doubt and division for political gain. Our collective health is too important to be a casualty of partisan squabbles.

Let us actively promote and support science and evidence-based medicine, not just as a professional obligation, but as a moral imperative. Let us dismiss or unequivocally reject anyone who chooses politics over science when the health of our communities and our nation is at stake. For in that choice lies not just a policy decision, but the very trajectory of our future. What kind of future do we want to build? One based on the solid ground of evidence, or one adrift in the shifting sands of political whim? The choice, and its consequences, are ours.

Alex McDonald, MD, CAQSM, FAAFP, a family and sports medicine physician and clerk of Claremont Unified School District’s Board of Education, has lived and served in Claremont for more than a decade.