Trust in Science: Confronting Misinformation, Rebuilding Confidence

About this episode

The episode discusses the erosion of trust in public health systems and the impact of health misinformation on Canadians.

Trust in traditional public health systems is eroding. At the same time, health misinformation - and disinformation - is spreading faster than ever, reshaping how Canadians view and interpret science and health care. The 2025 Health and Media Annual Tracking Survey, commissioned by the Canadian Medical Association (CMA), found that 43% of Canadians are highly susceptible to health misinformation. The impact of this is significant with 37% having acted on online medical advice because they couldn’t access a family doctor, and nearly one in four experiencing negative health outcomes as a result. The damage isn’t limited to physical health. Misinformation is also driving stress and fear — with 43% of Canadians reporting anxiety or mental distress linked to the spread of false or misleading health information. The first of a series on the topic, in this episode of Santis Health’s podcast, Santis senior advisor Avis Favaro sits down with Dr. Brendan Carr, Senior Vice President, Management Consulting, and Dr. Joss Reimer, physician and former president of the CMA. Together, they unpack what’s driving the decline in trust in institutions and traditional sources of health information…

People in this episode

Host: Avis Favaro

Guests: Dr. Brendan Carr, Dr. Joss Reimer

Topics covered

• trust in science
• health misinformation
• public health
• mental health
• health care
• confidence rebuilding

Keywords

• health misinformation
• public health
• trust in science
• mental distress
• Canadian Medical Association

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Canadian Medical Association

More episodes of From the Burgundy Chairs

• Unpacking the Inaugural Canadian Health Perspective Research · June 3, 2026 · 48 min
• A Critical Moment for Canada: Ensuring World-Leading Access to Innovative Medicines · April 27, 2026 · 26 min
• Unlocking the Script: The Future of Vaccine Access in Ontario · March 31, 2026 · 28 min
• Digital Health Founders: Adrian Schauer, AlayaCare · March 9, 2026 · 27 min
• Rethinking Care Approaches to Reduce Stigma · December 16, 2025 · 40 min
• The Future of MedTech: A Strategic Investment in Canada’s Economic Health · September 9, 2025 · 33 min