It takes 50 years to get a wrong idea out of medicine, and…
“It takes 50 years to get a wrong idea out of medicine, and 100 years a right one into medicine.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Medical ideas persist long after being proven wrong, while correct concepts take even longer to be accepted.
In simple terms: Wrong ideas linger; right ideas lag.
Critically evaluate new medical theories.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- hospital policy
- research funding
- clinical guidelines
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we accelerate adoption of correct ideas?
- What mechanisms keep wrong ideas alive?
Resistance can stem from entrenched interests.