BBC doctor issues warning to anyone who gets health information online

BBC doctor issues warning to anyone who gets health information online "If I'm honest, we should be very concerned." Dr Ranj reveals the alarming truth behind those viral health videos you've probably scrolled past A doctor has said he is deeply worried about the health content spreading online. Speaking on BBC Morning Live, Dr Ranj Singh said images and videos using his likeness have been shared to promote health claims. He said the clips were created with AI and have fooled large numbers of people. Hosts Gethin Jones and Helen Skelton asked Doctor Ranj whether he was worried about AI-generated health content - and if the public should be concerned. He replied: "If I'm honest, we should be very concerned." Sadly, he shared that "AI-generated imagery of Morning Live" is being used to sell false health claims, and some of it can "mislead people." Showing a photo of Jones with a so-called expert on the BBC show, the host stressed that it was fake and not actually him. The doctor then said that it "genuinely misled a lot of people." He added: "I’ve had AI videos of myself out there that are completely fake - and there’s virtually no regulation in the space at the moment." AI can be good, says Dr Ranj Singh The doctor said he isn’t completely opposed to artificial intelligence, pointing out it can be helpful in many areas, including healthcare. He said he’s working with the NHS on a project to speed up sepsis diagnosis in children, and added that AI can be a valuable tool when it’s properly regulated and used for that kind of purpose. While AI can be useful, it also has drawbacks. It can invent facts, generate realistic-looking videos and photos, and create deepfakes that make false claims seem credible. It can also give a misleading sense of authority. Because of this, he urged people to check sources, verify any claims, and not rely on AI alone for health advice. Ask these five questions The doctor urges people to ask these five questions when looking at information about health or any other topic. - What’s the evidence? Is it backed by genuine scientific research and high-quality studies? - Is the research new, up-to-date and current, or is it old information that has been rehashed - Is the person presenting trying to sell you something? If yes, it does not mean they are not credible, but the doctor warns there needs to be "transparency" - Go back to official sources like NICE, NHS and relevant charities and fact-check claims - Who is it that’s presenting the information? Are they qualified? Are they relevant? Are they registered? Are they an expert? He added: "Popularity is not proof. Don’t share unverified claims unless you are absolutely sure it’s true and if it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is." Misleading online health claims In the same segment, the BBC expert said the public "have to be cautious and wary" of information that circulates online - even if it's not AI-generated. He said the key thing to watch for with health claims online is that they often start with a kernel of truth grounded in real science, before being twisted into something inaccurate, untrue and misleading. In a "classic example" of something he experienced recently, he said that there are misleading claims about alkaline water. He explained: "When we’re sick, our bodies can be more acidic and that’s not a particularly good thing. The claim is that alkaline water reduces the acidity in our blood and in our bodies." Setting the facts straight, he said: "Drinking alkaline water doesn’t do anything to your blood acidity because your body is already very good at doing that. And actually if you drink water that's too alkaline, you end up in serious trouble because it’s not very good for you." Publication does not equal truth Dr Ranj said some tactics insist there’s evidence or scientific studies to back a claim, but not all medical research is the same. Some studies are rigorous and high-quality, while others are poorly designed - and being published doesn’t automatically make a claim true He also stressed that a study in five mice is "not the same" as a large randomised controlled trial involving many people. Finally, he warned about confusing correlation with causation: just because two things happen around the same time doesn’t mean one caused the other - they may be unrelated. What key words could suggest fake information? Dr Ranj urged people to look out for keywords such as miracle, detox, and guaranteed results. In fact, one phrase is "what doctors don’t tell you - that’s a big red flag for me", he said. These fake health claims often promise a quick fix, target a worry or problem, and then try to sell you a “solution,” the expert said. He added that health is complicated for many people, and warned that this kind of content often uses misleading or emotionally charged language. Concluding his advice, he warned that seeing the same person online again and again can create a misleading sense of trust. He added that what helps one person may not help another, and urged people not to change their health routine based solely on something they’ve seen online. If you are concerned about your health, seek help from your doctor.