Doctors report false health information, lack of health data sharing put patient care at risk

Canada’s doctors are concerned that false health information and disconnected health systems are putting patient care at risk.

In the latest edition of Physician Pulse, a joint survey initiative of the Canadian Medical Association (CMA) and Abacus Data, an overwhelming 99% of physicians^¹ reported that disconnected health systems prevent them from easily sharing patient records, test results or clinical notes. Almost half of those doctors (48%) report having seen a patient experience serious adverse health consequences including disease progression or missed diagnoses because of disconnected systems.

The survey also finds that 97% of doctors^² have had to intervene to prevent harm or address consequences after a patient followed false or misleading health information found online, including advice from artificial intelligence (AI). This follows the CMA’s 2026 Health and Media Tracking Survey, which found people who followed health advice from AI were five times more likely to experience harms than those who did not.

“Doctors face an uphill battle trying to provide timely patient care when they are routinely dealing with health systems that cannot communicate with each other and when patients are inundated with false health information that can lead to unintended harms,” says Dr. Margot Burnell, CMA president. “We need modern, connected digital health systems and stronger federal action to promote trusted health information.”

The Physician Pulse survey was completed by 645 practising physicians between April 6-13, 2026.

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