Comments by "robs2020" (@sbor2020) on "James O'Brien breaks down crazy conspiracy theories with Dom Joly | LBC" video.
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Post hoc ergo propter hoc is a fallacy in which one event followed by another *is seen as a causal relationship*. During the pandemic, it led to incorrect conclusions in medical contexts, such as when a patient develops endocarditis after receiving a vaccine. This fallacy can result in the erroneous belief that the vaccine caused the endocarditis simply because the condition appeared after the vaccination.
Scenario : A patient receives a COVID-19 vaccine and two weeks later develops endocarditis.
Fallacious Conclusion : Someone might argue, “The COVID-19 vaccine caused the endocarditis.”
Explanation : This conclusion represents a post hoc ergo propter hoc fallacy because it assumes a causal relationship based solely on the chronological order of events without considering other possible factors. In reality, the development of endocarditis may be influenced by numerous variables, such as:
The patient's pre-existing health conditions e.g., heart disease, congenital heart defects .
Recent infections or dental procedures that could introduce bacteria into the bloodstream .
The presence of risk factors for endocarditis, such as intravenous drug use or having an artificial heart valve .
To avoid this fallacy, a comprehensive medical evaluation would be necessary to investigate the true cause of the endocarditis. This would include:
Detailed patient history to identify any potential sources of infection .
Diagnostic tests, including blood cultures, to determine the type of bacteria causing the endocarditis .
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