I probably would be surprised if that's true considering that in most states in the US, doctors are required to complete between 20 and 50 hours of structured CME (continued medical education) annually as a prerequisite to relicensure, and every one I've spoken to took it pretty seriously.

They are not unaware of the new stuff. But it doesn’t enter their day to day until it’s reached critical mass or if they’ve identified a couple suitable patients to recommend it to. Eg. Advil’s not working for a patient’s headache so, tell patient to try Tylenol because I learned about it during CMEs. Advil remains default for a long while. In many cases, until this doctors kid replaces him in the practice. Their generation learned in med school that Tylenol should be default.

Are you a physician, work in medical education, or have some other sort of broader source of information than that of a patient? I've primarily had experience as a patient, but it certainly wasn't what you describe. Obviously anybody limited to a patient's perspective wouldn't have anything more than anecdotal data.

Though back in the day, I did support for a CD-ROM based CME product... It was simple software so most of the people who called were in their 70s and 80s and not very comfortable with technology. They all seemed pretty concerned with learning the new stuff.

I worked along side physicians for several years. I'm still in healthcare but more corporate. I have interacted with physicians as a clinician, business partner, and patient. They love to learn that's no doubt. But the OP content was about changing their prescription protocols based on some hacked together ML that has no traditional clout. That was never going to fly; not without some [insert specialty] doctor's endorsement or some medical journal nods.

When it comes to the business of healthcare, doctors are generally open to things that will make their jobs easier (they are money motivated creatures too). But, they don't necessarily like learning new things themselves. As a whole, they are rather resistant to change. It took a long time to incorporate any technology bedside (e-charts, etc).

As a patient, I/family has been referred to other doctors specifically because they were younger or knew their education differed in a meaningful way. The old guy knew his ways were outdated and we would benefit from the new ways. So he was aware of the new way, but wasn't practicing it.

A second opinion is a mainly a thing because different people have different approaches. And they can be both correct.