Nine series address the risks of health misinformation

"We live surrounded by information, and it's essential to learn how to identify what's reliable and what's not," say Raül Toran, Head of Scientific Outreach at ISGlobal, and Minerva López, an intern at the same institution. As part of the GOLIAT project, which focuses on 5G exposure and its potential impact on health, ISGlobal has launched a series of Escolab workshops for young people. One of its main objectives is to develop critical thinking in the face of scientific and health misinformation. As part of this work, a selection of nine series has been made that address the effects of fake news on individual and collective health from different perspectives.

The Apple Cider Vinegar series dramatizes the story of Belle Gibson, an influencer who claimed to have been cured of terminal brain cancer through natural treatments. Her followers believed her story for years, until the deception was exposed. The series, directed by Jeffrey Walker, has six one-hour episodes and can be streamed on Netflix. “This production addresses issues of health-related misinformation and fraud,” explains ISGlobal.

The Dropout, available on Disney+, tells the story of Elizabeth Holmes and her company Theranos. Through a narrative based on real events, it shows how a medical diagnostic technology that promised to analyze multiple parameters from a drop of blood turned out to be a fraud. The series, directed by Elizabeth Meriwether, has eight chapters. “It is a clear example of how false technological promises can have very serious health and ethical consequences,” comment the authors of the selection.

Another notable title is Dopesick, which chronicles the opioid crisis in the United States. The series, directed by Danny Strong, focuses on how misinformation and deceptive marketing by pharmaceutical companies contributed to an addiction epidemic. It can be streamed on Prime Video and Disney+. "Families and patients were trapped in a chain of pain, dependency, and medical misinformation," Toran and López note.

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Along similar lines, Painkiller, directed by Peter Berg and available on Netflix, complements the narrative of Dopesick. Over six episodes, it explores the harm caused by the intentional downplaying of the addictive effects of painkillers. "The series offers a critical view of the business and healthcare management of this crisis," explains ISGlobal.

Dr. Death, available on Prime Video and Atresmedia, is based on the true story of neurosurgeon Christopher Duntsch, whose medical practice caused serious harm to numerous patients. Directed by a team consisting of Kim So-yong, Maggie Kiley, and Jennifer Morrison, the series examines how misinformation and lack of oversight in the medical system can lead to high-risk situations. “Duntsch's story reveals the gaps in institutional accountability and the difficulties in detecting professional fraud in the healthcare field,” the creators state.

In the field of journalism, The Newsroom, an HBO Max production, showcases the efforts of a news team to maintain truthfulness in the era of fake news. Directed by Alan Poul, the series reflects the pressure media face to resist political and economic interests. "It's a call for informational integrity in times of data overload," says ISGlobal.

The Girl from Plainville, meanwhile, tells the story of Michelle Carter, convicted of involuntary manslaughter after encouraging her boyfriend to commit suicide via text messages. The series, directed by Lisa Cholodenko and available on Prime Video, raises questions about mental health, emotional manipulation, and the influence of digital media. “The Carter case shows how misinformation and social pressure can have irreversible consequences,” the authors note.

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Years and Years, created by Russell T. Davies and broadcast on HBO, presents a dystopian future in which social, political, and technological changes affect everyday life. Through the story of a British family, it illustrates how misinformation can influence decisions related to public health, migration, and politics. "It's a speculative fiction that allows us to understand how false narratives are intertwined with power structures," the creators explain.

Finally, It's a Sin, also by Davies and starring Olly Alexander, is set in the United Kingdom in the 1980s during the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The five-part series, available on HBO, exposes how stigma, fear, and misinformation contributed to the spread of the virus and social rejection. "Ignorance and a lack of reliable information exacerbated a health and emotional crisis among the affected community," the curators conclude.

All of these productions, according to ISGlobal, offer a way to reflect on the need to compare information and recognize reliable sources, especially when it comes to health.

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