When analyzing medical news or information, there are several things you should look for to assess whether they are a reliable site that is providing evidence-based information.

• Credentials of authors
• Pop up ads trying to sell something
• Emotional or inflammatory language
• Personal stories or testimonials rather than statistics
• No evidence that correlation = causation
• Stating “facts” without citing sources
• Links to unreliable sources, such as other blogs or “unofficial studies” (not primary journal articles)

Here’s a video that shows how websites can provide misleading information.

Below are links to some websites that provide reliable medical information or medical news. You can also look for the Hon Code logo.

Medical Information Sites

• clinicaltrials.gov
• medlineplus.gov
• MayoClinic.com
• cdc.gov (Centers for Disease Control)
• fda.gov (Food and Drug Admin)
• cancer.org
• patientslikeme.com

Sites that evaluate and analyze medical/health information

• https://cspinet.org/ (nutrition)
• http://www.bodyofevidence.ca/
• https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/
• https://www.quackwatch.org/index.html
• http://www.theskepticsguide.org/resources/links

News Sites

• https://www.healthnewsreview.org/
• http://neurosciencenews.com/
• https://www.statnews.com/
• https://www.medpagetoday.com/
• http://scibabe.com/ (colorful language)
• https://www.sciencenews.org/

Examples of non-reliable sources of medical or health news.

http://www.mercola.com/
https://www.davidwolfe.com/chinese-herb-kills-cancer-40-days/
https://www.cancertutor.com/what_causes_cancer/