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WebMD is currently the most visited health site on the internet. But is it a truly an independent and objective online health information resource?
Today’s moms and dads, conscientious and watchful for their family’s health, often research online. As a medical researcher myself, I’m always trying to discern if the information a site contains is safe and credible or not. Along the way, there are some you grow to love and some you learn to distrust.
While the general belief is that WebMD is a trustworthy source of unbiased health information, it’s become quite clear that it is an accomplice, using its internet influence to primarily promote Big Pharma health strategies and products.
WebMD Promoting Wealth Instead of Health
Back in 2010, it was exposed how a free online depression test they marketed was rigged in such a way that no matter how you responded the only answer you could receive was that you were at risk for major depression and should discuss your options with your doctor. This fake test was sponsored by Eli Lilly, the maker of Cymbalta, and its function was quite clear – to get you to inquire about antidepressants.
(Source: David Avocado Wolfe Facebook)
Eli Lilly was one of WebMD’s original partners and investors, along with Microsoft, DuPont, News Corp, and Silicon Graphics.
WebMD is the first private company to become a partner of the FDA. For every ailment that the health site presents, you get the corresponding pharmaceutical option that the FDA wants you to take. The safe, inexpensive, no-side-effect alternatives and strategies that can help improve your health (and prevent drug-related injuries) are ignored.
“A patient cured is a customer lost.” ~Big Pharma
The Wealth-Seeking Subsidiaries
Furthermore, their partnerships and subsidiaries suggest that WebMD is anything but an independent consumer website offering accurate and unbiased health advice. (They own four of the top ten most visited health sites on the web, further extending pharmaceutical companies influence.)
The WebMD Health empire includes the following subsidiaries and more:
- Drugs.com
- Medscape
- MedicineNet
- eMedicine / eMedicine Health
- RxList
- theHeart.org
Monsanto is the latest corporate giant to wield its influence through WebMD’s popularity. (source)
And lastly, in 2013, The Washington Times reported that the federal government awarded WebMD a $4.8 million contract for its agreement to post pro-Obamacare propaganda on its website, including the deceptive article “7 Surprising Things About the Affordable Care Act.”
So if you’re one one of the nearly 12 million people who visit WebMD.com every month, you’re getting a healthy dose of Monsanto propaganda along with your “health research”.
I do not obtain medical advice from WebMD whose sponsors consist of unscrupulous, deceptive companies.
“Believe nothing that you hear, nothing that you read, and only half of what you see.” ~My Granddad
“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” ~James 1:5
I research many places, but find myself returning to: (which you will not readily find on a casual search anymore as they have been downgraded in the search engines. So much for free speech)!
- PubMed
- Children’s Health Defense with RFK, Jr.
- Green Med Info has a wonderful search bar for studies (similar to PubMed)
- National Vaccine Information Center
- Mercola.com
- Dr. Amy Yasko
- Natural News
- Chris Beat Cancer
- Weston A. Price
- Joette Calabrese – everything homeopathic
- Susie Cohen, RPh
- And last but NOT least, The Truth About Cancer
What credible and safe sites do you research?
Laura
Thank you! I have read the articles at WebMD in the past, but I will avoid that from now on.
It’s so hard to know what on the Internet is credible or not. Often, when I am researching a medical issue I turn to the Mayo Clinic website – but who knows if that is truly credible either.
Deanna Rabe
I have used them at times, but am such a skeptic of much of the modern medical thinking because of this very thing your wrote about – which is to push a pill or drug at a symptom. Follow the money, is a good thing to remember.
Lenore
I use PubMed, but would like more resources; it’s hard to know the honest ones from those with an evil agenda. 🙁
Patti
I do believe Mercola.com has info/research/advice on just about every ailment known. It is my first go to site. Secondly, I just type in natural remedies for (fill in the ailment) and usually get lots of good sites with advice.
Diana
I do what Patti does – type in “natural remedies” along with whatever I’m searching. This usually steers clear of the huge drug-pushing cover-the-symptom websites.
Thanks for this post!!
Wendy
Thank you for informing us! I was hoping you would be ending the article by pointing us to some credible and safe websites that you use. Do you have suggestions for us, Jaqueline?
Thank you also for all that you do to inform us and encourage us with such a heart to honor the Lord.
Jacqueline
Wendy, I am sorry! I thought I had, but actually did not! Thank you for the prompt… I did add some of my favorites and think them all trustworthy at this time. Thank you for being such a sweet encourager 🙂
Katie
Some of my favorites:
for nutrition: http://www.westonaprice.org
for homeopathy: http://www.joettecalabrese.com
http://www.wellnessmama.com
http://www.draxe.com
thetruthaboutcancer.com
Erica Kennedy
I follow Doug Kauffman of Know the Cause and Suzy Cohen of America’s Favorite Pharmacist.
Jacqueline
Thank you, Erica! Both are trustworthy in my opinion!
Lenore
Erica, I love Suzy Cohen! She is the reason I got off of beta blockers for heart rhythm problems. Her ThyroScript steadied my heart better than the drugs. I think her information and products are the some of the best out there!
Jacqueline
Thank you, Lenore! I also like Suzy Cohen, but forgot to mention her!
john
I can appreciate your attempt to share insights but this is an example of another mommy blogger that is being completely naive and sharing mis-information. You clearly have no clue how WebMD works. It’s a very reliable source because despite informing people of industry brands from pharma and the like it’s actual Editorial is never compromised as everything goes through 7 reviews with a huge board of medical physicians and professionals. The whole point being to ensure balance, accuracy and no bias. You’re basically spreading foolish propaganda and conspiracy based on subjective and flawed opinions. Many websites provide advertising and sponsored opportunities but that does not mean they influence content, especially something like depression which actually impacts people’s lives. And also, 12 million a month is not even close to the level of traffic they get, so that’s wrong too.
Jacqueline
I appreciate the time you took to share your opinion, John.
Yet every day 290 people are killed by FDA-approved prescription drugs (promoted by WebMD) , and that’s the conservative number published by the Journal of the American Medical Association.
As some seem not to believe these numbers are real, I’ll quote the source: The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Vol 284, No 4, July 26th 2000, authored by Dr Barbara Starfield, MD, MPH, of the Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health.
That study, which is 16 years old — and drug deaths have risen considerably since then — documents 106,000 deaths per year from the “adverse effects” of FDA-approved prescription medications.
To reach this number from outbreaks of violent shootings, you’d have to see an Aurora Colorado Batman movie massacre take place every HOUR of every day, 365 days a year.
If a massacre of people using slugs of lead is bad, why is a massacre of people using deadly chemicals perfectly acceptable?
When something that is that dangerous is promoted, that is malpractice. Thanks for hearing my view.
skintags
Good post. I learn something new and challenging on websites I stumbleupon every day.
It will always be helpful to read through articles from other authors and use
a little something from their sites.
Janet
Thank you for this!! I’ve often been discouraged at the results of my own research!
Laura
My sister (also a researcher) and I have not felt it is a site we could recommend for some time.
Beth
As a RN with BSN it is great to read your posts. I stopped recommending WebMD years ago. I smiled as I read your list of other websites because I use most of those too!!! Keep up the great work of information. (Ignore John, he’s clueless to the media and pharma influences)
Chris
I think “John” is a Big Pharma plant. Thank you for sharing this information. The truth will always prevail.