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Healthcare Professionals Sound Alarm on Rising Medical Misinformation Online
Six out of ten healthcare professionals report “a great deal” of concern about medical misinformation circulating online, according to a new survey by Inlightened, a tech-enabled platform connecting companies with healthcare experts. Even more concerning, 76% believe the problem will worsen over the coming year.
The survey, which polled vetted healthcare professionals about the impact of online influence and misinformation, highlights growing alarm within the medical community about the spread of inaccurate health information and its real-world consequences.
“We started Inlightened because we saw a need for responsible disruption in healthcare,” explained Shelli Pavone, president and co-founder. “The findings highlight the critical moment we are in as an industry and a nation, and the need to lean on experts to not only shine a light on the truth but serve as a beacon in the dark.”
The survey revealed that medical misinformation is already significantly impacting patient care. Nearly 80% of respondents said online medical misinformation leads to “an acceptance and/or use of potentially harmful and unproven treatments,” while 78% noted it causes “a loss of trust in science-backed, proven treatments.”
More than half of healthcare professionals reported that patients “always” or “usually” bring information they’ve found on social media to appointments, yet one-third of respondents said this information is “rarely” helpful to discussions or treatment plans.
The rise of artificial intelligence and other digital tools is amplifying these concerns. As Maryanne Senna, Director of Lahey Hair Loss Center of Excellence and Research Unit at Beth Israel Lahey Health, pointed out: “Very quickly after the launch of the Sora app, we started seeing videos that made ridiculous claims, like deep-fried chicken is good for your health. While that particular claim may seem relatively harmless, the opportunity for these kinds of tools to enable people to create and share harmful – but credible-looking – information is vast, and largely unchecked.”
Healthcare professionals find themselves in a challenging position. While 25% believe they have a responsibility to engage online to combat misinformation, 60% responded “yes, but it’s complicated.” Only 54% report sharing healthcare-related research or information on social media.
Among those who don’t engage online, 53% don’t use social media at all, 44% don’t believe the rewards outweigh the risks, and 32% worry about safety concerns for themselves and their families. Three out of ten have engaged in online discussions or disagreements with unqualified influencers spreading misinformation.
Dustin Nisley, LCSW, owner and clinical director at Mindful Horizons Counseling, expressed particular concern about generative AI tools: “My biggest concern is the use of generative AI for therapy/information. With so little oversight or regulation, people could act on incorrect or damaging information that causes real harm.”
Despite these challenges, respondents offered potential solutions. When asked what could improve trust in medical information, 70% suggested “more scientific and medical voices in places where digital natives are,” while 69% called for “more access to evidence-based information.” Over half (57%) believe high-level government officials should publicly support medical and scientific communities, and 48% want to see less access to misinformation online.
Interestingly, 53% of healthcare professionals indicated they would be more likely to share trustworthy healthcare information online if they had “an assistant that could help get me started and with content planning and posting.”
The Inlightened survey was conducted online with 77 respondents from the company’s network of clinician experts between October 2 and October 21, 2025.
Inlightened, which was acquired by LocumTenens.com in August 2023, continues to operate as an independent entity within the Jackson Healthcare family of companies. The platform connects client organizations with healthcare experts to facilitate innovation in the healthcare sector.
The full survey report is available on the Inlightened website.
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16 Comments
The findings that 6 out of 10 healthcare professionals are greatly concerned about medical misinformation is a wake-up call. We need to take decisive action to curb the spread of inaccurate health information online.
Agreed. Collaboration between the medical, tech, and regulatory communities will be essential in developing effective solutions.
While AI can be a powerful tool, its role in spreading misinformation is worrying. We need robust safeguards and regulations to ensure AI is used responsibly in the healthcare space.
Absolutely. Responsible development and deployment of AI in medicine is essential to protect patient well-being.
This is concerning. Accurate medical information is critical, especially with the rise of AI-generated content. It’s important to rely on trusted healthcare professionals and fact-based sources to combat the spread of misinformation online.
Agreed. The medical community needs to be proactive in providing reliable, science-based guidance to the public.
It’s alarming that nearly 80% of respondents said online misinformation is already impacting patient care. This underscores the urgent need for solutions to this growing problem.
Agreed. The consequences of medical misinformation can be severe, so finding effective ways to combat it should be a top priority.
This survey underscores the urgent need for greater oversight and accountability when it comes to online health information. The potential for harm from medical misinformation is simply too great to ignore.
Absolutely. Robust policies and standards are needed to ensure digital health platforms prioritize accuracy and patient safety above all else.
This survey highlights the critical importance of having healthcare experts involved in the creation and dissemination of online medical content. Their expertise is invaluable in combating misinformation.
Agreed. Giving healthcare professionals a larger role in digital health platforms could help address these concerns.
The finding that 76% of healthcare professionals believe the problem of medical misinformation will worsen is very concerning. We need to act quickly to address this issue before it causes further harm.
Absolutely. Proactive steps are needed from both the medical and tech communities to curb the spread of misinformation online.
This survey highlights the critical role healthcare experts must play in shaping the online health information landscape. Their expertise is invaluable in ensuring patients receive accurate, evidence-based guidance.
Absolutely. Empowering medical professionals to actively participate in digital health platforms is key to addressing this challenge.