Difficulty in accessing medical services – long waits for an appointment with a specialist, tests and even longer waits for a procedure in a hospital make you desperately look for another way to help yourself. For example, when you see a doctor on social media who promises miraculous therapy, don’t be fooled! Many things you read on the internet are not true. How do they deceive you?
1. They refer to the authority, i.e. the doctor
– A doctor is not allowed to advertise anything! – says Dr. Hab. n. med. Michał Hawranek, cardiologist, Medical University of Silesia. – It happens that someone unfairly uses the image of a doctor for advertising or even creates a film with his participation using artificial intelligence. You must not believe this. No doctor will encourage you to buy any drugs or devices. It’s banned throughout the European Union – he explains.
So if you see a doctor in an advertisement, someone pretending to be one or a person who, for example, only appears in a doctor’s coat or with a stethoscope around his neck, remember – this is a scam!
2. They tell you that you need it
– Don’t believe it. Supplements either do not help much or are even harmful, e.g. excess vitamin C in the body contributes to kidney stones. Go to the doctor, he will possibly recommend tests and prescribe a prescription for the necessary medicine – warns Dr. Hab. n. med. Michał Hawranek.
It’s even worse when you buy a product of unknown origin advertised on the Internet. No one controls what’s in it. It may be a substance that helps a little, doesn’t help at all, or even contains toxic or harmful substances!
3. They promise that you will get rid of the disease immediately
There are no such miracles. If a doctor says that, for example, your knee is in a terrible condition and only surgery can help, unfortunately that is the case. The doctor examined you and ordered tests. He knows that other methods have failed. It may only relieve your pain temporarily. Meanwhile, you see information on the Internet that some pills will repair your knee, a miraculous stimulator will make degeneration disappear, and thanks to a heating band you will run down the stairs. If you buy such a device, you will simply waste money.
In case of pain or other ailments, first of all consult a doctor and seek help from him. All rehabilitation devices, upon recommendation by a doctor, are purchased in special stores intended for this purpose. For medicines, whether they are prescription or over-the-counter, go to the pharmacy. You can also ask your pharmacist for advice.
4. They want to extort your data
If you find such an advertisement on a social networking site, do not click on it.
– After clicking, the user is redirected to the website where he can make a purchase. However, after payment and entering data in the form, money and personal data provided are extorted. To avoid losing them, it is worth checking whether the material has been marked as sponsored or paid – advises Ewelina Włodarczyk, an expert at the NASK Disinformation Analysis Center. – Any content that raises doubts can be sent to NASK via the form available on the website www.zglos-dezinformacje.nask.pl – encourages.
