Let's face it, science isn't always correct. There are numerous famous examples, especially related to pharmaceutical mishaps, that illustrate this. This brings us to the idea that science is a process. And processes aren't perfect, especially those involving imperfect humans. I refer to this as the "closeness problem," sometimes called the "too close to the elephant problem." This concept suggests that if you are so close to an elephant that your eyeballs almost touch it, you wouldn't necessarily recognize that it's an elephant in front of you. You only see the color and texture of the skin up close. To see the whole picture, you need to take a few steps back to reveal the full elephant.

Specialization in science, health, and medicine often forces this closeness problem perspective. While there is significant value in a specialized approach, it leaves plenty of gaps that can create problems. You'll often hear scientists in a particular specialty make definitive claims that contradict the experiences of many individuals.

I say this not to discount the scientific process but to assert that we should also consider other aspects outside that process, such as experience and anecdotal evidence. A healthy sense of skepticism towards the institutions that might use the scientific process—or the appearance of a scientific process—to create a perception of truth and authority is essential.