Fact-Checking Policy
How important claims and calculator methods are checked before publication.
What we verify
We check numerical claims, definitions, guideline thresholds, calculator formulas, source dates and links, and statements that could materially affect a health decision.
Preferred evidence
Priority is given to government health agencies, recognized professional organizations, the National Academies, peer-reviewed literature and other primary or authoritative sources.
Calculator checks
Each calculator should document the formula or reference values used, validate inputs, label results as estimates where appropriate, and state important populations or situations for which the method may not apply.
Corrections
If a material error is identified, it should be corrected promptly. A substantive correction or method change should also update the page date and, when useful, the explanation of the method.
What we do not do
We do not fabricate references, quote sources we have not checked, or use a citation merely because it appears to support a desired conclusion.
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