The Doctor Weighs In understands the importance of transparency when it comes to earning the trust of our readers. We are aware that there is a vast amount of health information available online. Further, we know that it can sometimes be difficult to determine what is based on science and what, although it sounds appealing, is really pseudoscience. The latter is information that is passed off as scientific but is not actually based on the scientific method.
Because of this, we believe it is imperative that you understand how we select articles and authors and how we vet the information to be sure it is reliable and up-to-date.
We firmly believe that the more you know about the processes that are used to create and maintain online health information, the better able you will be to make decisions for yourself and your family that is based on the best available information.
Our authors are chosen for their expertise and ability to communicate complex concepts to consumers. Some of our authors are physician entrepreneurs who have created products and solutions for common medical problems. Others are experts in their fields, having published scientific articles and books in their areas of interest. We also publish articles from notable freelance health writers if their topics are well-researched, with verifiable information and a compelling story to tell.
All of our stories are reviewed by our editorial team to be sure they provide complete information in an unbiased way. We clearly note whether the author has a financial interest in a product or company being described and we hold such content to the same editorial standards as content written without such an interest.
All of our stories are also fact-checked by the editorial team as well as reviewed by one of our editorial board physicians.
We fact-check statements presented as medical facts against information published in peer-reviewed medical journals as well as on websites from respected institutions such s the CDC, NIH, and WHO). Other sources of verification include academic institutions, such as medical schools and respected medical groups. Disease-specific advocacy associations are also consulted. Links to the source are provided inline as well as in the reference list that appears at the bottom of the article.
Because the science behind health and wellness information is continually evolving, we routinely review our content to be sure it is up-to-date. If the science behind a topic has completely changed our prior understanding, the article will be rewritten in its entirety. Sometimes content becomes irrelevant, for example, a story about a technology that is no longer available. In that case, the article is removed from the site and placed in our archives.
Our Life Stories category is designed to give you a sense of what it is like to be a part of a medical journey, whether as a patient, a family member, a practicing clinician, or clinicians-in-training. Our medical student stories of life at the beginning of training are perennially popular. These are personal stories or opinion pieces and although they are subject to editorial review, they are not subject to fact-checking.
We encourage you to sign in to our site and leave comments on our stories. Every comment is moderated by TDWI staff to ensure its appropriateness and relevance. We also remove any promotional content or links from the comments.
If you have a comment or suggestion for staff, please se