Marty Makary was appointed commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2025. The prominent surgeon, medical researcher, bestselling author, and critic of the medical establishment—including the FDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention—has made the incendiary claim that medical errors are the third-leading cause of death in the United States, roughly equal to the next four causes combined: smoking-related lung disease, suicide, firearms, and automobile accidents.
In January 2026, the FDA issued a draft for public comment advocating more use of Bayesian statistics in drug approvals and other FDA actions. "Bayesian methodologies help address two of the biggest problems of drug development: high costs and long timelines," Makary wrote. "Providing clarity around modern statistical methods will help sponsors bring more cures and meaningful treatments to patients faster and more affordably." The proposal also claims a Bayesian approach would result in more accurate and nuanced advice for patient subgroups.
