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Ontario Doctors Warn of Risks as AI and Physician Gap Drive Self-Diagnosis Surge

Ontario Medical Association specialists outlined common online misinformation, urging use of walk-in clinics or reputable websites to avoid dangerous home remedies.

Dr. Zainab Abdurrahman is president of the Ontario Medical Association.
A person uses a cell phone in Ottawa on Monday, July 18, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
Dr. Valerie Primeau, a psychiatrist from North Bay.
Dr. Alyse Goldberg, an endocrinologist from Toronto who focuses on fertility and treating hormonal conditions.

Overview

  • At a July 9 Ontario Medical Association briefing, specialists in endocrinology, oncology and psychiatry detailed prevalent AI-driven and social media medical misinformation.
  • They cautioned that self-diagnosis and treatment online has led to unsafe home remedies, postponed professional care and costly scams.
  • Dr. Valerie Primeau noted a surge in reliance on unvalidated online ADHD tests as a trend among psychiatric assessments.
  • Physicians recommended cross-checking health information with doctors, visiting walk-in clinics and consulting established medical websites.
  • The ongoing shortage of family physicians in Ontario continues to push patients toward unregulated AI tools, spurring demands for systemic primary-care reforms.