Recognizing Medical Misinformation

Environmental & Science Education, STEM, Health, Medicine, Science & Society

Ed Hessler

We all need to be on guard against misleading medical claims. But first we have to recognize them.

New York Times health reporter offers some advice in a short article published in the StarTribune (3/31/2024) in the Science & Technology section. Both are protected by a subscription paywall. 

 

Blum talked with emergency physician Dr. Anish Agarwal, Dr. Tara Kirk Sell at the Johns Hopkins University, Dr. Sander van der Linden, University of Cambridge, U.K. and Irving Washington at KFF and they made some suggestions.

1). Are the claims substantiated? If in doubt make use of trusted sources, e.g.,, your doctor, local public health agencies, and large clinics such as Mayo.

2). Claims that jump to conclusions without evidence or "appeal to your emotions." Are there things in the claim that tend to make you upset or concerned." What is the record of the source in self-correction?"

3). Does the source use people "who do not have any medical credentials or use phrases such as "research," scientific or clinical or by unnamed scientists described as "renowned" physicians or scientists?"

4). Does the claim make use of "polarizing language or images and videos" to provoke "fear and outrage?"

5)  Use of snippets of quotes or scientific looking graphs, etc. If you can ask your search engine to check for the original source(s).

6) If a friend makes a suggestion which strike you as bogus, listen but ask them questions about how the person found the source or whether it matches "information...the "person has heard from doctors."