It’s becoming increasingly clear that our digital world, while offering incredible access to information, is also creating new and challenging problems for our healthcare system. Doctors across Canada are finding themselves on the front lines of a battle against false health information swirling online, and it’s taking a real toll on patients. A recent survey by the Canadian Medical Association (CMA) painted a stark picture: almost every single doctor they surveyed – a staggering 97% – has had to step in because a patient was harmed or put at risk by following bad health advice found on the internet. This isn’t just about quirky home remedies; it’s about misinformation, sometimes even generated by artificial intelligence, leading people down dangerous paths instead of toward proper medical care.
Dr. Margot Burnell, a medical oncologist and the president of the CMA, highlights the deep concern among medical professionals. She explains that when people can’t get to see a doctor quickly, they naturally turn to the internet for answers. While that might seem harmless, previous studies have shown a terrifying consequence: individuals who follow online health advice are five times more likely to report self-harm. This isn’t just a Canadian phenomenon, but it’s particularly acute here, where a significant majority of us – 89%, according to another CMA survey – go online for health information. Interestingly, while people of all ages are exposed to false health information, there’s been a noticeable rise among older generations, like boomers, alongside the already tech-savvy Gen Z and millennials, who are even more likely to use AI to try and diagnose or treat themselves. Platforms like Google and ChatGPT have become unofficial doctors, dispensing advice that can range from innocuous to downright dangerous.
Dr. Burnell shares some incredibly relatable examples of how this plays out in real life. Imagine someone experiencing rectal bleeding, a symptom that can be deeply anxiety-provoking. They might hop online and be reassured that it’s likely just hemorrhoids or fissures – which, statistically, are the most common causes. However, as Dr. Burnell emphasizes to her medical students, a doctor needs to conduct a physical examination to rule out more serious conditions like cancer. Relying solely on online information in such a scenario could lead to a life-threatening delay in diagnosis. Another concerning instance involved a patient who worsened a skin rash by following an online recommendation for a specific topical steroid cream, without a proper medical diagnosis. Furthermore, people might compare the duration of their viral illness to information they find online, leading them to believe they have something far more serious when their symptoms linger. A doctor who knows the local community and current circulating illnesses could easily reassure them, explaining that a particular virus is simply lasting longer than usual – a simple conversation that online searches often can’t replicate.
The problem, Dr. Burnell points out, isn’t just about the sheer volume of online information; it’s also a symptom of a deeper crisis in our healthcare system: a severe shortage of healthcare professionals right across Canada. When people can’t get an appointment with their family doctor or a specialist in a timely manner, the internet becomes the default, even if it’s a risky one. CMA studies paint a grim picture of these staffing gaps: Canada needs nearly 23,000 more family physicians, a staggering 49% increase from our current supply. The shortages extend to nurses, nurse practitioners, and other essential healthcare workers as well. Despite discussions among federal, provincial, and territorial health ministers, the CMA believes these talks haven’t yielded concrete solutions. This lack of access, combined with administrative hurdles that make it difficult for healthcare professionals to communicate and for patients to navigate the system, pushes more and more people towards the unreliable solace of online health advice.
Recognizing the gravity of the situation, the CMA is actively working to address these critical issues. This week, they, along with other medical associations, are in Ottawa, meeting with parliamentarians and senators. Their agenda is packed with vital discussions, including tackling health misinformation head-on. They’re also pushing for solutions to broader healthcare challenges, such as reducing the administrative burden on doctors through digital tools, strengthening access to team-based primary care, supporting Indigenous-led health initiatives to close existing gaps, and streamlining the licensing process for internationally trained healthcare professionals. The CMA has also launched its “Healthcare For Real” initiative, a crucial effort to make accurate and trustworthy health information easily accessible to the public. As Dr. Burnell wisely states, “There are reputable sources online, but we need to identify those.”
Ultimately, the responsibility doesn’t lie solely with healthcare providers; it also falls on us, the public. We need to become more discerning consumers of online information, developing both health literacy and digital literacy. While Dr. Burnell acknowledges the necessity of “meeting the patient where they are at,” meaning acknowledging that people will continue to seek information online, she offers a critical word of caution: “Be very cautious on the information that you’ve obtained, and be curious where that information has come from.” She urges us to question the source: Who put this information online? Are they reputable? Can it be validated by academic or scientific sources? In an age where digital information is both a blessing and a curse, cultivating this critical mindset is paramount to protecting our health and well-being.