Experts offer advice in an era shaped by artificial intelligence, social media, misinformation

Brian Druker, a renowned pioneer in precision medicine, expressed surprise upon discovering that a fake social media account in his name was promoting ivermectin as a potential cancer treatment. This incident highlights the growing challenge of misinformation in an era dominated by artificial intelligence and social media. Konrad Jotterand, director of the OHSU Center for Ethics in Health Care, notes that we now live in a "post-truth era" where "everything is up for grabs" and people's truths are not the same.

To combat misinformation, three OHSU experts offer their advice: Cliff Coleman, a physician and health literacy expert, emphasizes the importance of building trust with patients and verifying information through reliable sources; Kristin Whitman, head of learning and information services for the OHSU Library, suggests asking whether the information is trustworthy and considering the potential consequences if it is incorrect; and Fabrice Jotterand, a philosopher and medical ethicist, advises health care professionals to approach conversations with humility and practice civil discourse in a polarized environment.