Patients face a confusing array of medical claims on social media and AI-generated content that looks and sounds credible. Some of it is useful. Some of it is misleading or just plain wrong. And even accurate medical guidance may not apply to everyone's individual circumstances.
Between rising misinformation, declining trust in institutions, and the growing impact of social media and wellness influencers, many people aren’t sure where to turn for reliable health information. Physicians are a trusted source of answers.
This week, the American Medical Association (AMA) launched a campaign to fight health misinformation and encourage people to turn to the source they can trust—their doctor. The campaign asks one simple question: “Did you ask your doctor?”
“Your health is too important to leave to an internet search, an AI chatbot or an influencer,” said AMA President Willie Underwood III, MD, MSc, MPH. “Online advice can sound convincing, and some of it may even play a key role in early understanding of conditions. But it doesn’t know you or your health history and it doesn’t know you. Your doctor does. Before you treat it or ignore it, ask your doctor.”
The AMA and physicians are trusted sources of evidence-based health and wellness information. A physician is defined as a person who has received a “doctor of medicine" (MD) or a “doctor of osteopathic medicine” (DO) degree or an equivalent degree following successful completion of a prescribed course of study from a school of medicine or osteopathic medicine.
The AMA is the nation’s largest and oldest physician organization, founded in 1847 in part to establish the justly famous AMA Code of Medical Ethics. The AMA also publishes one of the world’s most prestigious and high-impact medical journals—JAMA®, the Journal of the American Medical Association.
The AMA campaign will feature public service announcement-style digital content, reaching consumers where they do their health searches. As part of the campaign, patients can search thousands of articles—evidence-based and reviewed by physicians—on today’s top health issues by visiting DidYouAskYourDoctor.org.
AI chatbot shouldn’t be your last stop
The campaign builds on the AMA's ongoing efforts to counter medical misinformation and promote greater accountability as augmented intelligence (AI)—often called artificial intelligence—becomes more widely used in healthcare. Technology is changing where people find medical advice. The AMA wants to make sure the most important source—your doctor—doesn't get lost in the mix.
One in three Americans say they would delay or skip care if AI told them their symptoms weren’t serious. If something doesn’t feel right, see your doctor.
It is OK to look up health questions online. Tips from the AMA on how to use AI safely and effectively can be found here. For a diagnosis and treatment, however, see your doctor.
Your physician can help you make sense of what you read and hear, drawing on years of medical training, clinical experience and knowledge of your personal health history. It is vitally important for patients to have these conversations and bring your concerns directly to your doctor, especially when making a decision about your health.
Learn more with the AMA about what doctors want patients to know about using AI for health tips.
