Another way of looking at this is, with medical research, all of the cost-effectiveness is driven by whether or not the technology works.
That depends on how you define "technology". Knowledge about which lifestyle choices that result in healthier living has an effect but I wouldn't call it "technology" in the narrow sense. I think there a good chance that there's a bias of people focusing too much on trying to use technology to solve problems.
Agreed but I think I'm more willing to call lifestyle choices, and in particular the means by which medical experts can guide the lifestyle choices of their patients, 'cultural technology' or something similar. One can know that some exercises will fix the patient's back pain, but not know how to get the patient to do those exercises. (Even if the patient is you!)
If it's worth saying, but not worth its own post (even in Discussion), then it goes here.
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