The tendency to process information by looking for, or interpreting it, in a manner that is consistent with our existing beliefs is very common. And this is amply evident when it comes to decisions related to health. The home remedies we seek, the warnings on cigarette packets we choose to ignore, the celebrity product endorsements that resonate with us…all these are often powered by cognitive biases that make us hold on to false, unscientific beliefs – even when there’s scientific evidence that proves otherwise.

First Check recently published a moving, first-person account of a young woman (a new joinee at our office) living with ADHD that showed how doctors are just as likely to have confirmation biases. What makes it perturbing is the risk of misdiagnoses and delayed treatments, affecting the lives of countless, hapless patients.

When we find social media videos about quick weight loss hacks, DIY teeth whitening treatments, or healthy breakfast myths, it can be challenging to rationally process the information, without any bias. More so, if it’s about an issue that we are emotionally invested in. The struggle is real. At First Check, we see that in numerous WhatsApp messages and emails that readers share with us, urging our fact-checkers to check the veracity of viral health claims on social media.

We give you the scientific facts. The research. The data. The expert opinions. But will that change your mind? Will paternal love make you give up smoking for the health of your unborn baby? Will more women take up strength training now that they know it can boost physical as well as mental health?

Beyond ‘yes’ and ‘no’ answers, we need to encourage open conversations about things that matter. Health matters. Facts matter. And that’s precisely why health fact-checking matters. First Check co-founder Dr Sabba Mehmood and I were recently quoted in an article about the Ayurveda boom in India. (Dr Sabba was part of the video too.) This is an evolving subject, with the Supreme Court of India taking a tough stand on misleading health advertisements last month.

For us, at First Check, it’s not about the politics, the business, or the influencers; our focus is – and has always been – solely on empowering people to make sound health decisions, backed by science. Every so often, that entails urging people to acknowledge their biases and keep an open mind. Because as the wise George Bernard Shaw said, “Those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything.”

You can read all our fact-check stories and explainers here.

Jisha Krishnan
Editor
First Check