Jun 11, 2025
About this episode:
A recent MAHA report from the Department of Health and Human Services stated that a trio of common procedures for children—tonsillectomy, adenoidectomy, and tympanostomy tube (ear tube) placement—“cause harm without offering benefits.” In this episode: a look at what these surgeries are, the advantages and risks, and what the report said—and didn’t say—about the value of these procedures when properly indicated.
Guests:
Dr. Emily Boss is the director of pediatric otolaryngology at Johns Hopkins.
Host:
Dr. Josh Sharfstein is vice dean for public health practice and community engagement at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, a faculty member in health policy, a pediatrician, and former secretary of Maryland’s Health Department.
Show links and related content:
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The MAHA Report: Make Our Children Health Again—The White House
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MAHA kids’ health report misinforms about tonsillectomies and ear tubes—STAT (Opinion)
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Tympanostomy Tubes or Medical Management for Recurrent Acute Otitis Media—The New England Journal of Medicine
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Note: These podcasts are a conversation between the participants, and do not represent the position of Johns Hopkins University.