Disinformation & Healthcare
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Happy Wednesday Advocates
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Healthcare Disinformation
Disinformation (malicious false rumors) have been spreading like wildfire for the past 8 or more years with dramatic negative effect.
Of course, we live in a tightly connected world where we are never far from the latest rumor or conspiracy theory on social media.
The RAND Corporation did a study on COVID disinformation campaigns. They examined 240,000 separate internet postings and discovered they could detect who was responsible for what kind of disinformation.
The most important finding was that both Russia and China promoted dangerous conspiracy theories about COVID-19 that likely had a negative impact on global public health and constitutes serious wrongdoing.
These conspiracy narratives included the idea that contact tracing was a sinister plot for governments to track their citizens and establish a totalitarian state; that unproven drugs like hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin were effective for treating COVID-19, but were being withheld from the public by a Big Pharma cabal; and that the danger of COVID-19 was being greatly exaggerated by the medical establishment.
Our adversaries have a goal. It is to weaken the US and our allies and an effective strategy is to inject lies to make us not trust everything around us. That includes health professionals, public health, the government, etc., etc. etc.
Here is video news report from ABC about childhood vaccinations for Mumps Measles and Rubella on the decline because parents are fearful of vaccinating. They are wrong of course and have forgotten the consequences of those diseases are severe and include sterility and death. A recent survey of pet owners found that about half are scared to protect their dogs from rabies. We need to get a hold of ourselves.
We already know the effect in the US of the COVID disinformation campaign, hundreds of thousands of us died who did not have to die. The attacks from adversaries are real and so are the results. And they are devastating.
WHAT TO DO
Ok forewarned is forearmed. Here is some of the guidance I have found to be useful. CISA, the Cybersecurity Infrastructure Security Agency, publishes regular guidance about disinformation. Here is one of their publications with helpful advice. Here, also, is a link to their library of advice that includes COVID as well as election cybersecurity.
Question the source. Critically evaluate content and its origin to determine whether it’s trustworthy. Research the author’s credentials, consider the outlet’s agenda, and verify the supporting facts.
Investigate the issue. Conduct a thorough, unbiased search into contentious issues by looking at what credible sources are saying and considering other perspectives. Rely on credible sources of information, such as government sites.
Think before you link. Slow down. Don’t immediately click to share content you see online. Check the facts first. Some of the most damaging disinformation spreads rapidly via shared posts that seek to elicit an emotional reaction that overpowers critical thinking.
Talk with your social circle. Engage in private, respectful conversations with friends and family when you see them sharing information that looks like disinformation. Be thoughtful what you post on social media.
I just signed up for an online course from the World Health Organization on what to do about an infodemic. That’s too much information, including false or misleading information, in digital and physical environments, during a disease outbreak. Here is the link to signup for infodemic management 101.
RESOURCES
Healthcare Advocacy (Us)
Website
Our Newsletter resources including reproductive healthcare
Healthcare Advocacy Reading List
Find My Elected Officials
Contact the White House https://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/
Contact State and Federal Representatives
https://www.commoncause.org/find-your-representative/addr/
Important Healthcare Resources
League of Women Voters Healthcare Reform Toolkit
Organizations to Contact
National Nurses United Medicare4All
Physicians for a National Health Plan
Reproductive Health
NARAL - Pro Choice America
Charley. NARAL’s abortion resource
Planned Parenthood
Miscarriage and Abortion Hotline has references about where to procure abortion medications. They also assist women in the process of self managed abortion or miscarriage by phone or text and will respond in an hour. Details and hours of operation at their website.
United State of Women Reproductive health page (bottom of the page) has important resources such as medical support, access to Telehealth, prescriptions by mail, and legal support references.
Practice careful communications - The Digital Defense Fund has a number of tips to keep texts, calls, and internet use private. Here is their site.
If you need financial help with an abortion try abortionfunds.org
One of the issues with this is people are confused about what is considered a “credible” source. Saw it with my graduate students on their written work. And the distrust in those sites sponsored by government or academic institutions further erodes this. Sad.