There’s something quietly troubling happening in Australian general practice, and it’s not just the usual pressures of long waiting lists and complex patient needs. More and more GPs are reporting that they’re spending time untangling the effects of online misinformation—and the numbers are striking. This year, 44 per cent of GPs say medical misinformation in their communities is a genuine challenge in their day-to-day work, up sharply from 35 per cent last year. That’s nearly one in every two family doctors now looking at the internet, social media, and, increasingly, AI-generated content as a serious obstacle to good patient care. These figures come from the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) 2026 Health of the Nation report, which drew on the experiences of more than 2,700 GPs across the country. It’s not meant to be a scare story, but it is a wake-up call. The report paints a picture of a healthcare system where the patient-doctor relationship is being tested by a constant flood of information—some useful, some harmless, and some genuinely dangerous.
What’s changed in just a year? According to the report, it’s the growing sophistication and reach of online misinformation, and the rapid rise of artificial intelligence has made everything worse. In the past, a patient might have read a questionable blog post or heard a confusing story from a neighbour. Now they might be watching a very polished, personalised video generated by an AI that mimics a trusted medical professional, or reading a convincing article that mixes true facts with invented ones. Dr Michael Wright, President of the RACGP, put it plainly: patients are increasingly turning to online platforms, social media, and AI-powered tools for health information before they speak with a doctor. And as AI-generated content becomes more widespread, more personalised, and more convincing, misinformation becomes harder to spot—not just for patients, but sometimes even for professionals. The result is that GPs are having to play detective, fact-checker, and trusted guide all at once. It’s not that they resent the questions. In fact, most doctors would encourage anyone to be curious and informed about their own health. But there’s a difference between being curious and being misled, and that line is becoming blurrier every day.
The real danger isn’t just that someone believes a wrong fact; it’s what happens next. Health decisions are deeply personal, and they often carry high stakes. When a patient relies on inaccurate online advice, it can delay a proper diagnosis, discourage them from seeking preventive care, or lead them to avoid treatments that are proven to work. In some cases, it puts their health at serious risk. Dr Wright gave a sobering reminder that misinformation doesn’t exist in a vacuum—it chips away at trust in evidence-based medicine. A patient who has been convinced by online chatter that a common vaccine is harmful, or that antibiotics are always the answer, or that natural remedies alone are enough to manage a chronic condition, may walk into a GP clinic already suspicious of anything the doctor says. That creates a painful barrier. GPs want to work with patients, not against them. They want to listen, explain, and help people make informed choices. But when someone has built their health beliefs around a hollow promise from the internet, it can take several appointments to rebuild the trust needed for compassionate, effective care. The relationship between a patient and their GP has always been built on trust, and in this strange new era, that trust has never been more precious—or more fragile.
Governments, regulators, and health organisations are all trying to find their footing in this new landscape. There’s real hope that AI could improve diagnosis and treatment, especially in areas where access to specialists is limited. But there are also serious risks. Government guidance itself acknowledges that AI can be difficult to interpret, may not perform equally well for all patients, and could reinforce existing biases if used carelessly. That’s why Dr Wright and the RACGP are pushing for a sensible, safe approach. New technologies should be rolled out with safety, transparency, and trust at the centre—not just with the exciting promise of innovation. Patients need to know where their health information is coming from, whether it’s an AI tool or a human professional, and whether it has been tested and shown to work. The RACGP is not anti-technology. Far from it. Many GPs are already using digital tools to improve care and communication. But the organisation is saying that we can’t let the hype outrun the evidence. We need clear rules, honest communication, and a system that puts patient safety above everything else.
At the heart of the RACGP’s recommendations is a call to strengthen Australia’s evidence base for primary care and to support the resources that GPs rely on to provide high-quality advice. This isn’t just about more research papers gathering dust on a shelf. It’s about building a national general practice-based research network that can generate real-world evidence from the front lines of healthcare. After all, if we want Australians to have access to accurate health information and the highest quality care, we need to invest in the guides, guidelines, and research that support evidence-based medicine. That means funding long-term studies, updating clinical guidelines in line with the latest science, and giving GPs the time and tools they need to stay current. It also means helping doctors communicate more effectively with patients who may have been influenced by what they’ve seen online. A GP might have the best medical knowledge in the world, but if they can’t have a respectful, understandable conversation with a patient, that knowledge doesn’t help. The RACGP wants a healthcare system where research and general practice are connected, so that what we learn in clinics every day can inform the broader picture of community health across the country.
For now, the message from the RACGP to every Australian is simple and reassuring: you don’t have to navigate health information alone. If you see something online that worries you, confuses you, or seems too good to be true, talk to your GP. That’s what they’re there for. GPs see real patients with real histories, risk factors, medications, and personal circumstances. They can help separate evidence-based information from myths, misinformation, and increasingly sophisticated AI-generated content. As Dr Wright said, general practice is often where misinformation is identified and corrected before it causes harm. Your regular doctor knows you—not just your test results, but your values, your worries, and your context. That kind of trusted relationship cannot be replaced by a chatbot or a trending video. In a world where information is everywhere, wisdom is rarer and more valuable than ever. So the next time you’re tempted to act on a health tip you saw online, remember this: a conversation with your GP is still the best first step. It may not always be the easiest step, but it’s the one most likely to keep you safe, informed, and truly heard. The internet can be a wonderful tool, but when it comes to your health, nothing compares to the human connection and clinical judgment of a doctor who cares.