pediatric housecalls Robert R. Jarrett M.D. M.B.A. FAAP

Medical Breakthroughs, Unaccepted, Rejected and Attacked (at first)

I’m sorry to say that my profession is no different than others when it comes to E G O! At least it is now.

As pathetic as it sounds, a person’s tolerance or consideration of new information (even the true kind) hangs upon: where or even who it is coming from, how far it departs from what you already think you know, and perhaps even more importantly how the change will effect the ego or pocketbook.

4 Posts in "Unaccepted Breakthroughs" Series

  • Major Medical Breakthroughs, unaccepted: Intro/Index – 22 Jul 2017
    Human nature as it is, doctors not excepted, change is fought against tooth and nail if it at all offend either ego or pocketbook. This is a bit of history lesson on a few of our hard-won breakthroughs where not only the idea, but the discoverers were unaccepted, rejected and even attacked for their discoveries.

  • Part One - Handwashing, Incubators, Angioplasty, Cancer, Ulcers – 23 Jul 2017
    Medical Breakthroughs Initially Ridiculed, Rejected or Persecuted. Yes, the doctor who suggested that other doctors wash their hands actually lost his life! There are many others: handwashing, incubators, angioplasty, cancer, ulcers, brain injury…

  • Part Two - Germs, proteins, heredity and immunotherapy – 31 Jul 2017
    As if part one of this series wasn't enough—there are more! Incredibly, this was written long before COVID-19, mask mandates or BLM reinforcing the mantra "progress has no greater enemy than doctors (or politicians) with ‘vested interests masquerading as moral principles."

  • Part Three - rational scepticism, evil intent and concussions – 8 Aug 2017
    Rational skepticism in one thing; but, deliberate and evil intent is quite the "bad brother from the dark side." Rejecting a reasonable and hard-won piece of medicine purely for financial and cover-your-a$$ reasons; well, I'm glad that Roger Godell and his NFL got caught with their dairy-aire's hanging out in public.


Brain injury from professional sports has a bleed-off in children’s sports as well. You can be better informed on that aspect in these posts about children’s concussions.