Questions by Freethinkers Alliance
Introduction
How can we distinguish reliable medical evidence from unsupported health claims? Why do complementary and alternative medical treatments remain popular despite limited scientific evidence? And how can people make informed healthcare decisions in an environment saturated with medical advice and misinformation?
To explore these questions, The Freethinkers Alliance invited Professor Edzard Ernst, Emeritus Professor at the University of Exeter, to share his perspectives on evidence-based medicine, complementary and alternative medicine, and the importance of scientific thinking in healthcare.
In this written Q&A, Professor Ernst addresses ten questions covering clinical evidence, misleading medical claims, healthcare communication, scientific literacy, and the challenges of evaluating treatments responsibly.
Questions and Answers
1. What does evidence-based medicine mean in practice?
Professor Edzard Ernst:
Evidence-based medicine (EBM) means making clinical decisions by integrating the best available research evidence, clinical expertise, and the patient’s values and circumstances.
In practice, a clinician should ask a focused question, find and critically appraise relevant studies or guidelines, judge whether the evidence applies to the individual patient, then discuss benefits, harms, and preferences to reach a shared decision.
2. How should patients distinguish treatments supported by reliable evidence from those based primarily on anecdote or tradition?
Professor Edzard Ernst:
In practice, this is often not possible for a lay person. Patients mostly have to trust their healthcare team which has an ethical and professional obligation to be well informed and act responsibly.
3. Why do some complementary and alternative medical treatments remain popular despite limited or insufficient evidence of effectiveness?
Professor Edzard Ernst:
There are many possible reasons for this. The main one probably is that we are all submitted to a constant flow of misinformation about CAM.
4. How should we evaluate claims that a treatment works when patients report personal benefits but well-designed clinical studies do not demonstrate convincing results?
Professor Edzard Ernst:
If well-designed clinical studies do not demonstrate convincing results, this means that the treatment in question has been evaluated and we should go by these results rather than by some personal experience which can be notoriously misleading.
5. What are the main warning signs that a medical treatment or health product is being promoted through misleading claims rather than reliable scientific evidence?
Professor Edzard Ernst:
There are several:
- “Miracle cure,” “breakthrough,” “secret ingredient,” or “ancient remedy” — especially for serious or incurable diseases.
- One product claimed to be a “cure-all”; real treatments usually have specific, evidence-based indications.
- Quick-fix promises, such as rapid symptom control, instant cures, or guaranteed results.
- Testimonials or celebrity endorsements instead of real evidence.
- Pressure tactics: “limited supply,” “act now,” advance payment, or no-risk money-back guarantees.
- Claims that proven treatment should be delayed or abandoned, or vague “detox,” “immune-boosting,” or “natural means safe” rhetoric.
6. How should healthcare professionals communicate uncertainty about treatments without undermining public trust in medicine?
Professor Edzard Ernst:
Say clearly what is known, what is not, why recommendations may change, and what will be done next. This preserves credibility much better than false certainty.
7. What responsibility do doctors, researchers, journalists, and public institutions have when responding to unsupported or potentially harmful medical claims?
Professor Edzard Ernst:
Doctors: Listen empathetically, correct misinformation in a personalised way, explain risks and alternatives, and direct patients to reliable sources.
Researchers: Communicate findings accurately, disclose uncertainty and conflicts of interest, correct misinterpretations, and avoid overstating preliminary results.
Journalists: Verify claims, disclose false ones, provide context, avoid false balance, and avoid sensationalisations.
Public institutions: Issue timely, transparent guidance; state what is known and unknown; support/enable fact-checking and health literacy; counter misinformation.
8. How can scientific literacy and critical thinking help people make better healthcare decisions, particularly in an environment saturated with health advice on social media?
Professor Edzard Ernst:
These skills make people better at recognising uncertainty, avoiding manipulation, and seeking reliable advice, risking their health, and taking responsible decisions that serve them optimally.
9. What changes would you most like to see in medical education, healthcare regulation, and public communication to strengthen evidence-based medicine?
Professor Edzard Ernst:
The most effective changes would be those that make EBM a practical, lifelong skill; regulate conflicts of interest and misleading claims; and communicate evidence in plain, honest terms. The exact details would depend on which national system and deficits we are talking about.
10. What advice would you offer to readers who want to assess medical claims critically without having a scientific or medical background?
Professor Edzard Ernst:
Read some of my books.
About Professor Edzard Ernst
Professor Edzard Ernst is an Emeritus Professor at the University of Exeter known for his research and critical evaluation of complementary and alternative medicine.
His work has examined the scientific evidence behind alternative treatments and their implications for healthcare.
To learn more about his work and publications, visit his official website: https://edzardernst.com/
About The Freethinkers Alliance
The Freethinkers Alliance is an independent platform promoting scientific literacy, skepticism, critical thinking, and evidence-based public discussion.
Through expert contributions, educational articles, and thoughtful discussions, the platform aims to encourage readers to question unsupported claims, evaluate information critically, and make informed decisions based on reliable evidence.
Editorial Note
This written Q&A is based on responses provided by Professor Edzard Ernst to questions submitted by The Freethinkers Alliance. The answers are attributed to the professor. The introduction and other editorial material were prepared by The Freethinkers Alliance.
Publication: The Freethinkers Alliance
Website: https://freethinkersalliance.com/
