Thinking for Yourself in the Age of Misinformation: Why Informed Consent, Refusal, and Medical Autonomy Still Matter

By Mary Louder, DO and CAIRN HEALTH

Introduction: A World Full of M’s (ok, there is one ‘D’)

We live in an age of wild information. Or, as I like to say, an M-storm.

• Medical information
  
  

• Misinformation
  
  

• Malinformation
  
  

• Disinformation
  
  

It’s enough to make even the most grounded among us want to throw our phone in the lake and ask a pine tree for advice. (Which honestly, isn’t the worst idea.)

But here’s the truth behind the swirl: your body, your mind, and your medical choices still belong to you. In this world of conflicting narratives, scientific disputes, and shifting health headlines, your right to informed consent, informed refusal, and medical autonomy is not only valid — it’s vital.

So let’s untangle the mess.

The “M” Words Explained (Because Yes, They’re Different)

Before we dive into patient rights, let’s define the terrain. These terms may sound similar, but in the health and media world, they serve very different functions.

Medical Information

This is factual, evidence-based knowledge. Ideally, it’s research-supported, peer-reviewed, and presented without bias. Think: CDC data, peer-reviewed studies, clinical guidelines, or a trusted physician’s clinical experience.

But here’s the kicker — even this is not infallible. Science evolves. Paradigms shift. What we once thought was accurate (think smoking in pregnancy or margarine as “heart healthy”) may later prove harmful. That’s why curiosity must accompany knowledge.

 Misinformation

This is incorrect or misleading information shared without intent to harm. Maybe someone misinterpreted a study. Maybe Aunt Linda shared a viral post without fact-checking. It’s often spread innocently — but it can have very real consequences.

Example: “Vitamin C cures cancer” — this has no solid scientific foundation, but it’s a common wellness myth.

 Malinformation

This is true information shared in a way that is misleading, harmful, or out of context. It’s the selective sharing of truth that paints a distorted picture.

Example: Sharing that a vaccine has side effects (true), but leaving out how rare or minor they are — which can incite unnecessary fear.

 Disinformation

This is intentional manipulation. Deliberately false information created to mislead, confuse, or sway opinion. Sometimes it’s political. Sometimes it’s commercial. Always, it’s toxic.

Example: Fake studies funded by industries with a vested interest in your confusion.

So… Who Can You Trust?

This is the million-dollar question. And the honest answer? You must learn to trust yourself first.

“If you listen to the patient, they will tell you what is wrong with them.”
— Sir William Osler (and something I live by)

As a physician with decades of experience and a heart full of stories, I’ve seen it all:

• Patients dismissed for “Googling too much,” who were later proven right.
  
  

• Well-meaning doctors who never learned to say “I don’t know.”
  
  

• And patients who stayed silent too long, afraid to challenge the expert in the white coat.
  
  

But here’s what I want you to hear — really hear:

 You are allowed to question your physician.
You are allowed to ask for second opinions.
You are allowed to refuse treatment.
You are allowed to choose a different path.

Not because you distrust medicine — but because you trust yourself.

Informed Consent & Informed Refusal: The Real Heart of Medical Autonomy

Informed consent is more than a signature on a clipboard.

It means you’ve received all the information you need — the benefits, the risks, the alternatives, the uncertainties — to make a choice that aligns with your values, your body, your life.

But here’s the often forgotten twin:

 Informed Refusal

You also have the right to say no. Even to treatments that are medically recommended. Even when the doctor thinks you’re “wrong.” Even when you’re scared, or unsure, or need more time.

This is not defiance. This is discernment.

Why “Outside-the-Box” Thinking is Medicine’s Secret Weapon

Here’s something you may not hear often from a board-certified physician:

“Thinking outside the box” is not a liability. It’s a lifeline.

Some of the most pivotal breakthroughs in medicine came from people who dared to question, challenge, or wonder “what if…”

• What if diet could change inflammatory markers?
  
  

• What if the gut was connected to the brain?
  
  

• What if trauma lived in the tissues, not just in the mind?
  
  

These once-radical ideas are now foundations of functional and integrative medicine. That’s why my work as an osteopathic physician honors the whole person — spirit, soul, and soma (body). It’s why I believe that the best medicine includes both science and story.f

Let’s Be Honest — This Isn’t Easy

I’m not here to say this work is simple.

Challenging your doctor can feel scary.

Tuning into your body when you’ve been taught to override it takes real courage.

Choosing an integrative path may mean going slower, deeper, or different than what your insurance covers.

But this is the sacred mess of healing.

And in that mess, you deserve:

• Clear, evidence-based options
  
  

• Practitioners who listen deeply
  
  

• A space to honor your instincts
  
  

A Metaphor for the Moment: The Compass and the Map

Think of it this way:

• Medical information is the map.
  It tells you what has been charted — what paths are well-trodden, what outcomes are statistically likely.
  
  

• Your inner wisdom is the compass.
  It tells you which direction feels right for you — even if it’s not the most direct route, or even if no one else is walking that way.
  
  

If you only follow the map without your compass, you may end up somewhere that doesn’t feel like home.

But if you throw away the map entirely, you risk getting lost in fear or fantasy.

The sweet spot? Map in one hand. Compass in the other.

Practical Tips for Navigating the M-Storm

Let’s get tangible. Here are a few tips to help patients (and peers) navigate our modern swirl of conflicting health narratives:

1. Ask Your Doctor:

• “Can you walk me through the research behind this?”
  
  

• “What are the risks of doing nothing?”
  
  

• “Is there another way to approach this?”
  
  

• “How do you stay current with evolving data?”
  
  

2. Evaluate the Source:

Before you believe a post, podcast, or pill:

• Who benefits financially from this message?
  
  

• Is there peer-reviewed evidence cited?
  
  

• Are fear or urgency used as persuasion tools?
  
  

3. Know Your Rights:

You always have the right to:

• Delay a decision
  
  

• Request a different provider
  
  

• Bring a loved one to appointments
  
  

• Ask for all your medical records
  
  

4. Reconnect With Your Body:

Pause. Breathe. Ask:

• What feels heavy or tight about this recommendation?
  
  

• What feels like relief?
  
  

• What decision allows me to sleep peacefully tonight?
  
  

A Note to Fellow Physicians

If you’re reading this as a healthcare provider: I see you. This work is hard.

We were taught to lead with certainty, to fear litigation, to minimize complexity for the sake of efficiency.

But patients are not problems to be solved — they are people to be witnessed.

Let’s make room for:

• “I don’t know, but I’ll look into it.”
  
  

• “Let’s decide together.”
  
  

• “Tell me what you’re sensing in your body.”
  
  

This is where the future of medicine lives.

Final Thoughts: Love, Not Fear

If you take one thing from this piece, let it be this:

You are not broken.
You are not a conspiracy theorist because you ask questions.
You are not a “difficult patient” because you need more time.
You are a sovereign being in a system that often forgets what that means.

Let’s bring humanity back to healthcare.

Let’s honor science and soul.

Let’s build medicine that informs, not coerces — that listens, not lectures — that heals, not hurries.

Written for you with both Science and Soul ~ 

Mary Louder, DO