In early October 2018, many people in the United States and abroad were closely watching the twists and turns around a Supreme Court nomination as multiple women accused the nominee of committing or abetting sexual assault. Almost immediately, bots, trolls, and useful idiots picked up on the controversy, muddying the waters with rumors, gossip, and […]
The Department of Justice is siding with plaintiffs in a lawsuit that it said, if successful, would end Affordable Care Act protections for those with preexisting conditions. Yet, President Donald Trump claimed that “preexisting conditions are sa Go to site post…»
Was 21-year-old Abdullah Al Samir sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia for masturbating to a drawing of the prophet Muhammad? No, that's not true: the story was made up for entertainment purposes by a website that specializes in fictional storie Go to site post…»
Was a New Orleans hairdresser named Enoch Azaka arrested for creating voodoo dolls out of the hair of his customers? No, that's not true: the story was made up by a website that invents tales of bizarre crimes and weird sex acts for entertainm Go to site post…»
Did a rhino named "Arjuna" have an erection lasting 96 hours at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park because some teenagers fed him Viagra? No, that's not true: the story was made up by a website that likes to invent tales of bizarre crimes and weird Go to site post…»
Is 66-year-old Kathy McAllister from Atlanta, Georgia auctioning off her virginity to pay for sex reassignement surgery? No, that's not true: the story was made up by a site that constantly fabricates tales of weird sex acts, crazy people or Go to site post…»
Did Jason and Judith Gilmour of Jackson, Mississippi sue hypnotherapist Mohammed Ben Salam after he failed to turn their gay grandson into a heterosexual? No, that's not true: the story was made up by a website that habitually fabricates tale Go to site post…»
Beginning Jan. 1, Medicare Advantage enrollees may be required to use lower-cost alternatives to more expensive drugs for new prescriptions for medications administered by a physician or in a clinical setting.
Health and Human Services Secretary Alex A Go to site post…»
Sen. Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the Democratic nominee for New York’s 14th Congressional District seat, are pointing to a study they say shows “Medicare-for-all” would save Americans money. But the author of the study sa Go to site post…»
Q: Were the victims of a New Jersey home explosion tied to an investigation into the Clinton Foundation?
A: No. A viral conspiracy theory is spreading that claim without any evidence. Investigators told us they “found no evidence of foul play& Go to site post…»
President Donald Trump implied that his administration’s funding to fight the opioid epidemic had caused the “numbers” to come “way down.” But the most recent data we have on opioid-related deaths — which are still r Go to site post…»
The "Right to Try" act is aimed at experimental treatments for terminally ill patients, not ending marijuana prohibition on the federal level. Go to site post…»
Q: Did an FDA-approved form of “synthetic marijuana” lead to recent deaths in Illinois?
A: No. The drugs that have killed four people in the last two months are unregulated and illegal.
FULL ANSWER
Four people have died after using dru Go to site post…»
Q: Are Muslim nurses excused from washing their hands before medical procedures in Britain?
A: No. That is an old misrepresentation that has been circulating online since 2010.
FULL ANSWER
A false story that started in Britain eight years ago has i Go to site post…»
‘Mutant’ Tilapia Fish is Unsafe to Eat, Contains Cancer-Causing Dioxin-Mostly Fiction!
Summary of eRumor:
A meme claiming that tilapia is a “mutant” fish that’s unsafe to eat combines a number of long-running warnings abou Go to site post…»
President Donald Trump tweeted that while Democrats are pushing for universal health care, “thousands of people are marching in the UK because their U[niversal] system is going broke and not working.” But the London demonstrators marched in Go to site post…»
Facebook Users Warn About Tamiflu Side Effects in Children, Including Homicidal Tendencies-Unproven!
Summary of eRumor:
Facebook user Heather Hanford described her son, Isaac’s, reaction to Tamiflu. Also, Facebook user Melissa Rodriguez said her Go to site post…»
Given 18 Months to Live, Man Cures Cancer With Cannabis Oil-Fiction!
Summary of eRumor:
A British man named David Hibbitt was given 18 months to live before he cured cancer with cannabis oil.
The Truth:
Many holistic health websites have featured the Go to site post…»
In our roundup of 2016 claims, we hypothesized that SciCheck would have no dearth of false and misleading claims to cover in 2017. That proved true.
From President Donald Trump’s decision to exit the Paris Agreement to Environmental Protection A Go to site post…»
In our roundup of 2016 claims, we hypothesized that SciCheck would have no dearth of false and misleading claims to cover in 2017. That proved true.
From President Donald Trump’s decision to exit the Paris Agreement to Environmental Protection A Go to site post…»
Q: Is it true that under the GOP tax bill, Medicare will stop covering cancer treatment?
A: No. Nothing about the tax bill would end cancer treatment benefits. Increased deficits could lead to Medicare spending cuts, however.
FULL QUESTION
There is a Go to site post…»
Sen. John McCain Votes to End Cancer Treatments for Medicare Beneficiaries-Mostly Fiction!
Summary of eRumor:
U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), while undergoing taxpayer-funded cancer treatments, voted to end cancer treatments for Medicare beneficiaries.
T Go to site post…»
Dr. Donald Cline, a retired fertility doctor accused of inseminating patients with his sperm, is set to plead guilty to charges he lied to investigators. Go to site post…»
Q: Has Canada passed a law that would allow parents to euthanize disabled children?
A: No. Canada’s physician-assisted death law applies only to adults if they are mentally capable of making such a decision.
FULL ANSWER
Physician-assisted deat Go to site post…»
Q: Does the National Institutes of Health fund research on human-animal chimeras, or organisms that are part-human, part-other animal?
A: With some exceptions, the NIH doesn’t fund research on human-animal chimeras. But the agency has propose Go to site post…»
Q: Is Congress considering a bill that would allow police to track “all Americans” with microchips?
A: No. A popular story on Facebook distorts the implications of proposed legislation to help locate missing Alzheimer’s patients and Go to site post…»
It’s true, as President Donald Trump says, that branded prescription drugs are generally cheaper outside the U.S. But he distorts the facts when he says, “as usual, the world is taking advantage of us.”
Prescription drug pricing exper Go to site post…»
U.S. Virgin Islands Governor Signs Order to Seize Guns Ahead of Hurricane Irma-Truth! & Fiction!
Summary of eRumor:
U.S. Virgin Islands Governor Kenneth E. Mapp signed an order allowing the National Guard to seize weapons and ammo from citizens as Go to site post…»
Q: Is bacon better for you than tilapia? Does tilapia cause cancer and/or Alzheimer’s disease?
A: No. These false claims, spread by multiple websites, are not supported by solid scientific evidence.
FULL QUESTION
What is the truth about wa Go to site post…»
Q: Did Indiana legalize marijuana?
A: No. That fake story comes from a website that invites visitors to “Create A Prank And Trick All Your Friends!”
FULL ANSWER
A story on Channel23news.com proclaims that “after 2 and 1/2 years of Go to site post…»
Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price made two claims about opioid addiction that are contradicted by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, which is part of the department Price heads.
Price made his claims on May 9 while in West Virginia, t Go to site post…»
Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price and House Speaker Paul Ryan engaged in partisan spin in talking about the Republican health care bill.
The American Health Care Act was passed by the House on May 4, and both Price and Ryan appeared on Sund Go to site post…»
98 Million Americans Were Given Cancer Through Polio Shots-Fiction!
Summary of eRumor:
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has admitted that 98 million Americans were given cancer through polio shots contaminated with SV40, a cancer-ca Go to site post…»
A list purportedly documents the myriad reasons or symptoms behind patients' being admitted to insane asylums in the back in the 1800s. Go to site post…»
This week, a reader sent us comments on the reasons behind lower physician participation in Medicaid, as compared with private insurance or Medicare.
In the FactCheck Mailbag, we feature some of the email we receive. Readers can send comments to editor Go to site post…»
In an address to law enforcement, U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions made two dubious claims about marijuana and opioids:
Sessions said marijuana is “only slightly less awful” than heroin, an illicit opioid. Experts says heroin is thre Go to site post…»
In seeking to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price has said “one out of every three physicians in this nation aren’t seeing Medicaid patients.” House Speaker Paul Ryan said “m Go to site post…»
Q: Did Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price say “it’s better for our budget if cancer patients die more quickly”?
A: No. That’s another made-up quote from a “news/satire” website.
FULL QUESTION
Did Tom Pr Go to site post…»
