Canadian doctors are raising serious concerns about the growing number of patients turning to artificial intelligence for medical advice — and receiving information that could put their health at risk.
The Canadian Medical Association (CMA), which represents physicians nationwide, says the trend is particularly troubling at a time when many Canadians lack access to a regular primary care provider. With limited options for timely medical guidance, more people are turning to AI-powered tools that provide instant answers, even when those answers may be inaccurate or misleading.
“It’s alarming because a lot of that information is misinformation, disinformation, and false information,” said Dr. Margot Burnell, president of the CMA. “And that really undermines the trust between patients and their physicians.”
The warning comes alongside new survey findings commissioned by the CMA and conducted by Abacus Data. The poll asked 5,001 Canadians where they seek health information and which sources they trust.
Nearly all respondents said they search for health information online, most commonly to learn about symptoms, medical conditions, or possible treatment options. However, the survey found widespread exposure to misleading content: 64 per cent of participants said they had encountered online health information that they later discovered was false or inaccurate, while another 29 per cent said this happens rarely.
Although only 27 per cent of respondents said they trust AI to provide accurate health information, many still rely on it. About half reported using AI-generated search results from Google or platforms such as ChatGPT. Around 38 per cent said they had used ChatGPT specifically for treatment advice.
The survey also suggested potential real-world harm. Respondents who followed health guidance provided by AI were five times more likely to report experiencing a negative health effect or adverse reaction as a result.
Burnell noted that doctors are familiar with patients researching symptoms online before appointments, but AI presents a different challenge. These platforms often deliver information in a confident, definitive tone, without considering an individual’s full medical history or personal circumstances.
“AI information is different because it’s hard to know who’s generated it,” Burnell said. “It’s hard to ensure where the validity and the science has come from.”
The survey found strong public support for action to curb health misinformation. Most respondents believe both social media companies and governments have a responsibility to address the spread of false medical claims.
Canadians are also increasingly concerned about misinformation originating in the United States. More than three-quarters of those surveyed said they worry about growing health misinformation coming from south of the border.
The survey referenced recent false and misleading claims made by U.S. President Donald Trump and his health secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., including inaccurate statements about vaccines and an unfounded claim linking Tylenol use during pregnancy to autism.
Burnell warned that repeated exposure to misinformation — especially from prominent political figures — can weaken public confidence in science-based health guidance and fuel doubt about trusted medical sources.
According to the survey, half of respondents said misinformation has made them more skeptical of advice from health professionals, while 69 per cent said it has caused them to question other health information they find online.
The Abacus survey was conducted in early November. As with most online polls, it cannot be assigned a traditional margin of error because the sample is not considered fully random.