How do I know if a medical website is legit?

To determine if a medical website is legitimate and trustworthy, you need to critically evaluate its content, source, and overall presentation. A truly reliable medical website prioritizes evidence-based information, transparency, and patient safety above all else.

Key Indicators of a Trustworthy Medical Website

When assessing a health information website, look for several critical signs that indicate its credibility. These signs help you distinguish between accurate, unbiased medical advice and potentially misleading or harmful information.

1. Identify the Source and Author

Always check who is providing the information. Reputable medical websites are typically run by established medical organizations, government agencies, universities, or professional societies.

• Look for "About Us" or "Contact Us" sections: These should clearly state the organization's mission, authors' credentials (e.g., MD, RN, PhD), and affiliations.
• Check the domain name:
  • .gov: Indicates a government agency (e.g., publichealth.lacounty.gov). These are generally reliable as they are official and evidence-based.
  • .edu: Represents an educational institution, like a university. Their content is usually peer-reviewed and research-driven.
  • .org: Often used by non-profit organizations. While many are highly reputable (e.g., familydoctor.org, the American Academy of Family Physicians; mayoclinic.org, the Mayo Clinic), some may have specific agendas. Always investigate their mission.
  • .com: Commercial sites can be highly biased towards certain products or services, even if they aren't directly selling anything. Exercise caution and verify information from .com sites with other trusted sources.

2. Evaluate the Information's Accuracy and Evidence

Legitimate medical websites base their information on scientific evidence and cite their sources.

• References: Look for citations, bibliographies, or links to medical studies and research. This shows the information isn't just opinion.
• Medical Review: Some sites indicate that their content is reviewed by medical professionals.
• Avoid Anecdotes: While personal stories can be compelling, they are not a substitute for scientific evidence.
• Be Skeptical of "Miracle Cures": If a claim sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

3. Check for Current and Updated Content

Medical knowledge evolves rapidly. Outdated information can be harmful.

• Date of Publication/Last Review: Look for a clear date indicating when the content was last updated or reviewed by a medical professional. If a page hasn't been updated in several years, the information may no longer be accurate.
• Broken Links: Numerous broken links can suggest a site is poorly maintained and potentially outdated.

4. Understand the Website's Purpose and Potential Bias

Consider why the website exists. Is it to inform, sell, or promote a specific agenda?

• Advertisements: While some reputable sites have ads, excessive or highly intrusive ads (especially for products related to the health condition discussed) can signal a commercial bias.
• Product Endorsements: Be wary of sites that strongly promote specific products, supplements, or services without balanced information.
• Funding: Some sites disclose their funding sources, which can indicate potential biases.

5. Assess Website Security and Privacy Policies

Your personal health information is sensitive. A legitimate site respects your privacy.

• Privacy Policy: A clear and accessible privacy policy explains how your data is collected, used, and protected.
• Secure Connection: Look for "https://" in the URL and a padlock icon in your browser's address bar, especially when submitting personal information.

6. Review Website Design and Functionality

A professional appearance often correlates with credibility.

• Professional Design: Reputable sites tend to be well-organized, easy to navigate, and free of excessive pop-ups, typos, or grammatical errors.
• Working Links: All internal and external links should function correctly.
• Contact Information: Easy-to-find contact details (phone, email, physical address) indicate transparency.

Quick Comparison Table

Feature	Trustworthy Medical Website	Questionable Medical Website
Domain	Primarily .gov, .edu, or reputable .org (e.g., familydoctor.org, mayoclinic.org, publichealth.lacounty.gov)	Often .com with strong commercial bias, or unusual extensions.
Authorship	Clearly stated medical professionals, institutions, or government bodies with credentials.	Anonymous authors, vague "experts," or no information about who is providing the content.
Evidence & Citations	Information backed by scientific research, studies, and clear citations.	Relies on anecdotes, personal opinions, or unsubstantiated claims; no references provided.
Date of Content	Clearly displays publication/update dates; content is current.	No dates, or content appears significantly outdated.
Bias	Informative; may have limited, clearly disclosed advertising; no push for specific products.	Heavily promotes specific products, supplements, or unproven treatments; intrusive ads.
Privacy	Clear privacy policy; uses HTTPS.	No privacy policy or unclear terms; may lack HTTPS.
Professionalism	Well-designed, easy to navigate, minimal errors.	Poor design, typos, grammatical errors, broken links, excessive pop-ups.

By applying these criteria, you can confidently identify reliable sources of medical information and make informed decisions about your health.