Who is responsible for the websites content?
Reliable websites tell you who edits and approves the content (such as an editorial board) and how to contact the organization that operates the website. For example, the About Us section on Cancer.Net includes a list of Cancer.Net Editorial Board members—including more than 150 medical, surgical, radiation, and pediatric oncologists, oncology nurses, social workers, and patient advocates—and the seal of approval from the Health On the Net (HON) Foundation, an organization that established a code of conduct for health and medical websites. The “Contact Us” link provides users with an address, phone number, and e-mail address to reach the Cancer.Net editorial staff. Be cautious when reading information posted on discussion groups or bulletin boards because this part of the website may not be regularly reviewed or updated. Who funds the website? A website’s financial backing may affect how information is presented. This is called bias. High-quality websites make it easy to tell the diffe
