Fake News and Alternative Facts - 1290034

Thanks. Bad information has always been easily accessible via the web. Resources count.

How are you wadvocator?

Are there any well-known sources that are untrustworthy.

Finding information seems very simple, but sometimes I cannot tell if a site is untrustworthy.

I was just thinking that maybe some of the sites that I have been trusting as reliable might just be more popular than they are accurate.

Any list of News sources to stay away from would really help put my mind at ease. Especially when it comes to treatment information and drugs. It is hard to tell the difference between an add, a hit piece, and a real study.

Hi celineg,

It's not really possible to list any sources as "unreliable", as that would open us up to possible legal liability, although it's certainly a red flag if the source is also trying to sell a product or book about a particular therapy. In addition, even usually trustworthy news sources can publish information on cancer treatments that is unreliable or overstated, since they get much of their information on promising new drugs from the manufacturers themselves, who always try to put their products in the best light possible. In general, if you see the words "major breakthrough" or "possible cure", you should take what's written with a large grain of salt, as this is likely to represent marketing rather than scientific evidence. Clinical trial reports and information which comes from established medical journals is the most reliably accurate.

JimC
Forum moderator

Thank you so much for your response, Jim.

I think that somewhere inside myself I knew that. But your words have grounded me and reminded me of the correct ways to stay cautious.

It can just get overwhelming.

I understand the issue of liability, but if I ever see a specific claim, could I discuss the validity of that particular claim?

Nothing has really rung overly true, but I would like to have a second pair of eyes before I get my hopes up.

I ask in advance so that I don't get anyone in trouble. Permission is always an easier thing to ask than forgiveness.

celineg,

If you're asking whether anyone on the GRACE staff could express an opinion on a possible legal claim, the answer would be that such an opinion would be beyond the scope of what we do here. Treatments often cause side effects, but whether a claim could be successfully maintained against a drug manufacturer is a legal question best left to attorneys and courts. In any event, GRACE provides medical information rather than opinions or advice. Telling a GRACE member what they should do could subject us to legal liability.

If at some point you feel that you may have a potential claim with regard to your treatments, you would need to consult an attorney to discuss the merits of that claim.

JimC
Forum moderator