By the third day, I felt the need for a new medical diagnostic code: Misinformation. However, COVID-19 medical misinformation is even more dangerous because of its immediate consequences, such as causing people to ignore social distancing and wearing face masks, thus putting others at risk. If there were more political support for public health science, the vast spread of this virus may have been avoided. The public is craving information from their doctors on media platforms; therefore, public health media messaging should be an essential part of medical education. Allowing a medical diagnostic code for misinformation could encourage patients to make appointments with their primary care physician to learn the skill of sorting through medical misinformation.

Source: Huffington Post July 15, 2020 12:56 UTC