Download the report Disinformation Doctors: Licensed to Mislead
A majority of Americans think doctors who intentionally spread misinformation about COVID-19 should be held accountable, according to a new poll conducted by Morning Consult on behalf of the de Beaumont Foundation. With a high level of agreement across various demographic groups including political ideology, the poll accompanies a new report by the de Beaumont Foundation and No License for Disinformation, Disinformation Doctors: Licensed to Mislead.
- 91% of adults said doctors don’t have the right to intentionally spread misinformation or false health information.
- 83% said a physician’s responsibility to share credible information with their patients and the public outweighs their protected right to speech.
- 78% said medical doctors who intentionally spread misinformation about COVID-19 should be disciplined in some way and expressed varying levels of support for actions such as warnings, fines, or license suspension or revocation.
Following are the key findings.
Some medical doctors are publicly and intentionally spreading misinformation about COVID-19 and vaccines. Should doctors who intentionally spread misinformation about COVID-19 and vaccines be held accountable?
- 90%: Yes, Americans need to be able to trust doctors, and spreading false information is dangerous and irresponsible.
- 10%:Â No, doctors should have the right to share any health information they want.
Which of the following statements comes closest to your perspective, even if neither is completely correct?
- 9%: Doctors have the right to intentionally spread misinformation or false health information.
- 91%: Doctors do not have the right to intentionally spread misinformation or false health information.
When it comes to professional medical communication, which do you think is more important?
- 83%: A physician’s responsibility to share credible information with their patients and the public.
- 17%: A physician’s protected right to speech.
In your opinion, should medical doctors who intentionally spread misinformation about COVID-19 be disciplined in some way?
- 78%: Yes
- 9%: No
- 13%: Don’t know/No opinion
Do you support or oppose the following actions to discipline medical doctors who intentionally spread misinformation about COVID-19? (asked of people who said doctors should be disciplined in some way)
Doctors who intentionally spread misinformation about COVID-19 should…
- 78%: Receive a warning
- 89%: Have to pay a fine
- 80%: Have their license temporarily suspended
- 58%: Have their license permanently revoked
Methodology
Morning Consult conducted a poll of 2,200 adults on behalf of the de Beaumont Foundation December 4-7, 2021. The interviews were conducted online, and the data were weighted to approximate a target sample of adults based on gender, educational attainment, age, race, and region. Results from the full survey have a margin of error of plus or minus 2 percentage points. Group proportions may total to larger than 100% due to rounding.
Download Disinformation Doctors: Licensed to Mislead.
