Medical Misinformation Is a Patient Safety Crisis: How Health Literacy Can Save Lives

As medical malpractice attorneys representing patients across New York, We’ve witnessed the serious harm that can result when patients rely on false or misleading medical information.. Today, the widespread and viral nature of medical misinformation is not just a public health issue—it is a patient safety crisis.

According to the 2025 ECRI Top 10 Patient Safety Concerns report, one of the most urgent dangers in healthcare today is the “Wide Availability and Viral Spread of Medical Misinformation.” False or misleading health claims are being shared online faster than ever before—often outpacing efforts to stop them. Research has shown that false health claims are 70% more likely to be shared on platforms like X (formerly Twitter), and can spread up to six times faster than accurate information.

This viral spread of misinformation leads to real-world consequences:

Parents giving their children chlorine dioxide (bleach) to “cure” autism after reading Facebook posts.
TikTok “#parasitecleanse” videos promoting harmful, even fatal, remedies to treat imaginary parasites.
Conspiracy theories claiming that pharmaceutical companies are hiding cancer cures for profit.

The tragic reality is that patients sometimes forego life-saving treatments or seek dangerous alternatives based on false beliefs. In these cases, the result can be delayed diagnoses, mismanaged conditions, and in extreme situations—preventable deaths. For families affected by such outcomes, legal action may be the only path to accountability.

Misinformation and Medical Negligence

While not all instances of medical misinformation result in legal liability, healthcare providers do have a responsibility to recognize when patients are misinformed and take proactive steps to educate and redirect them. A failure to do so—especially when it results in serious harm—can sometimes rise to the level of malpractice.

Medical institutions are encouraged to:

Integrate health literacy programs into their patient care strategies.
Actively monitor and counter misinformation through social media and community outreach.
Train medical staff to respond empathetically and effectively when patients raise concerns rooted in false beliefs.

Unfortunately, some healthcare professionals fail to address these issues, or worse, reinforce misinformation by giving into pressure or failing to provide clear, evidence-based guidance. When this results in avoidable harm, patients and their families may have grounds for a malpractice claim.

Legal Recourse for Victims of Misinformation-Linked Harm

If you or a loved one suffered harm because of a misdiagnosis, delay in treatment, or harmful medical intervention influenced by misinformation—and a healthcare provider failed in their duty to correct or prevent it—you may have legal options. Our team of top-rated medical malpractice lawyers has represented clients in complex, high-stakes cases involving everything from delayed cancer diagnoses to wrongful deaths caused by avoidable medical errors.

At Gair, Gair, Conason, Rubinowitz, Bloom, Hershenhorn, Steigman & Mackauf, we are nationally recognized for holding hospitals, doctors, and healthcare systems accountable. We are committed to empowering patients through the justice system—just as health systems should be empowering them through education and truth.

Call 212-943-1090 for a free consultation. There is no fee unless we win.