World Model · podcast knowledge graph

Do Less, Heal More: The Case for Medical Conservatism (with John Mandrola)

2026-06-29 · 60 min · episode 1056 · 19 entities

episode page audio

Asserted relationships

  • → appeared on EconTalk podcast
    0.68
    evidence rules-v4
    Do Less, Heal More: The Case for Medical Conservatism (with John Mandrola)
  • → hosted by Russ Roberts person
    0.55
    evidence rules-v4
    Feed author/publisher: Russ Roberts
  • → hosted by Library of Economics and Liberty person
    0.55
    evidence rules-v4
    Feed author/publisher: Library of Economics and Liberty
  • → discusses Society & Culture concept
    0.40
    evidence rules-v4
    Feed category: Society & Culture
  • → discusses Science concept
    0.40
    evidence rules-v4
    Feed category: Science
  • → discusses Philosophy concept
    0.40
    evidence rules-v4
    Feed category: Philosophy
  • → discusses Education concept
    0.40
    evidence rules-v4
    Feed category: Education
  • → discusses Courses concept
    0.40
    evidence rules-v4
    Feed category: Courses
  • → discusses Social Sciences concept
    0.40
    evidence rules-v4
    Feed category: Social Sciences

Entities found in this episode

concepts 13

  • mentioned Society & Culture concept
    0.50
    evidence rules-v4
    Feed category: Society & Culture
  • mentioned Science concept
    0.50
    evidence rules-v4
    Feed category: Science
  • mentioned Philosophy concept
    0.50
    evidence rules-v4
    Feed category: Philosophy
  • mentioned Education concept
    0.50
    evidence rules-v4
    Feed category: Education
  • mentioned Courses concept
    0.50
    evidence rules-v4
    Feed category: Courses
  • mentioned Social Sciences concept
    0.50
    evidence rules-v4
    Feed category: Social Sciences
  • 0.42
    evidence rules-v4
    Do Less, Heal More: The Case for Medical Conservatism (with John Mandrola)
  • discusses Society & Culture concept
    0.40
    evidence rules-v4
    Feed category: Society & Culture
  • discusses Science concept
    0.40
    evidence rules-v4
    Feed category: Science
  • discusses Philosophy concept
    0.40
    evidence rules-v4
    Feed category: Philosophy
  • discusses Education concept
    0.40
    evidence rules-v4
    Feed category: Education
  • discusses Courses concept
    0.40
    evidence rules-v4
    Feed category: Courses
  • discusses Social Sciences concept
    0.40
    evidence rules-v4
    Feed category: Social Sciences

persons 5

  • mentioned John Mandrola person
    0.72
    evidence rules-v4
    Do Less, Heal More: The Case for Medical Conservatism (with John Mandrola)
  • mentioned Russ Roberts person
    0.70
    evidence rules-v4
    Feed author/publisher: Russ Roberts
  • 0.70
    evidence rules-v4
    Feed author/publisher: Library of Economics and Liberty
  • hosted by Russ Roberts person
    0.55
    evidence rules-v4
    Feed author/publisher: Russ Roberts
  • 0.55
    evidence rules-v4
    Feed author/publisher: Library of Economics and Liberty

podcasts 1

  • appeared on EconTalk podcast
    0.68
    evidence rules-v4
    Do Less, Heal More: The Case for Medical Conservatism (with John Mandrola)
Episode description as stored
What if the surgery that fixed your knee did no better than fake surgery? EconTalk host Russ Roberts speaks with Dr. John Mandrola about a striking clinical trial in which patients who received sham knee surgery (a real incision, but no actual repair) did as well or better than those who had the actual procedure--one performed 700,000 times annually in the U.S. The conversation ranges from the power of placebo and nocebo effects (how expectation of harm can cause real suffering) to the broader philosophy of "medical conservatism"--the idea that humility, watchful waiting, and honest counsel often serve patients better than the knife. Mandrola argues that financial incentives, professional identity, and language itself ("bone-on-bone," "the widowmaker") conspire to push patients toward interventions that can do more harm than good.