My last post was about medical misinformation, and I had a lot to say. I decided to make a second part and there’s some other directions that I’d want to go in for medical misinformation. It’s not just about following the money, although that is a huge part of it.
Checking the Speaker’s Confirmation Bias
A lot of people will come on the internet and talk about cherry-picked information that supports their preconcieved biases. A lot of people have a set view of the medical system, or doctors. They then view all of the subsequent information that they find through that lens. That can lead to a lot of people being misinformed. Before listening to someone, think about if what they’re saying slots into any beliefs that they already have.
Check Your Own Confirmation Bias
Part of why you should always do double checks on every piece of information is to avoid your own confirmation biases. You need to look at the voracity of the research, not just if you already agree with the conclusion. A good practice is to not even finalize an opinion until after you’ve done all your research into reputable sources.
Written by Brigid Coffey
