‘Anti-science’ prolific in online parenting groups: Doctors of BC
Posted March 27, 2019 8:15 am.
Last Updated March 27, 2019 8:49 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – It’s the middle of the night and your kid wakes up with a strange rash, do you: (a) wait until morning and see a doctor, or (b) post an image if the swollen epidermis on Facebook parenting groups until someone offers a satisfactory diagnosis?
A growing number of online parenting groups have become the go-to option for moms and dads trying to crowdsource advice but Dr. Eric Cadesky, the head of Doctors of B.C., says it’s a concerning trend.
“There’s always been sources of misinformation but what is so dangerous now is it’s never been harder to differentiate between the truthfulness of the sources and the organizations that put out false information because they profit through it,” he says.
He gets it though, there’s no judgement here. After all, doctors offices generally close outside of regular business hours and few doctors are available by email or online.
And many people find a sense of community and camaraderie in the social spaces they share with those facing similar challenges to their own.
It’s hard for medical professionals to compete with the convenience and emotional power of social media.
“The internet never sleeps. Websites with misinformation never sleep and there’s never a shortage of friends who may or may not be well-meaning and are happy to give their opinion when asked,” says Cadeski.
The question to ask is where did those friends get their information from and how can you verify it?
Cadesky says don’t take the articles, opinions or emotionally triggering personal stories at face value.
He warns interest groups purposefully spread anti-science falsehoods and it’s easy to be caught off guard.
“It can be quite dangerous because these websites that are out there and these social media platforms do put a lot of peer pressure on people and they do tell quite horrific stories in order to try to change behaviour,” he says.
Hoping his patients will call the doctor, Cadesky makes himself available 24-7 and via email. He wants people to know that calling your doctor isn’t a bother and that medical professionals are always here to help.
“It’s our job to be bothered. It’s our job to be accessible to our patients,” he says. “We became doctors because we love helping people.”
