Source check
How can I check an answer myself?
Use a source that answers the exact question. A license record, a drug label and a study do different jobs.
Follow the answer back
-
Match the kind of question
For who can practice, start with the state board. For what a product is approved for, start with its label.
-
Read the date and the scope
Check which product, use and group of people the statement concerns.
-
Read what the source leaves open
Look for limits, conditions and a comparison group.
-
Return to the original claim
Ask whether the headline says more than the source supports.
Know what a check can prove
A medical board’s public record shows whether a doctor has a current license and whether the board has recorded penalties or formal charges.
Even a record showing no penalties cannot predict the quality of care.
As of September 17, 2026.
Patients and health professionals can send the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reports about problems while using a medicine.
As of September 17, 2026.
These reports describe problems that happened while someone was using a medicine.
A report by itself cannot establish that a medicine caused the problem or that medical checks have verified the details reported.
You cannot work out how frequently a problem happens from these reports.
As of September 17, 2026.
Words you may meet along the way
- Placebo
-
A dummy treatment used as the comparison in a study.
- Formulary
-
Medicines that a particular insurance plan may cover.
- Accreditation
-
A private organization checks whether a business follows its standards; this is separate from a state license.
For example, a pharmacy can earn accreditation for following national standards when making medicines to order.
That check covers the process, rather than testing each batch of medicine.
Use the answer in the next conversation
Write the source title next to your question. Ask your treating professional or insurance plan to go over any difference between the answer and the source. You do not need to turn the visit into a debate; you need an answer that makes sense.