Latest news with #NHS-branded
STV News
9 hours ago
- Health
- STV News
Scots turning to 'inaccurate and misleading' medical advice from AI
Scots have been urged to stop turning to 'inaccurate and misleading' medical advice generated by artificial intelligence. Health Improvement Scotland (HIS) surveyed more than 560 people across the country about medicine safety, long-term conditions, and preconception care. The Citizens' Panel 15 found 61% said they would turn to search engines for answers about medicines they are taking. Clare Morrison, HIS's director of engagement and change, said many search answers give AI-generated answers that can be 'inaccurate and misleading'. 'Our report found that people want to know how to get reliable information about their medicines,' she said. 'The growth of AI means this isn't always obvious. 'It is so important that trusted and evidence-based medicines information is clearly available for the public, and one way to achieve this is by looking for NHS-branded websites.' It comes as hundreds of people have reported problems with their pancreas linked to taking weight loss and diabetes jabs, prompting health officials to launch a new study into side effects. Ms Morrison added that using search engines for medical-related questions can pose a potential risk because search engines use AI to provide a summary of search results without clarity in terms of what sources are included and their reliability. 'This is also important to consider with the increasing rise of the use of AI, with individuals potentially using AI tools to find medicine information,' she said. The survey found that 88% of respondents said they would feel confident that the information is reliable and up to date if it has NHS branding, such as the NHS logo. Nearly all who took part in the panel agreed that it is important to them to understand the purpose, benefits and risks of the medications they take, and 93% agreed that they are willing to be involved in discussions about the medication they take, including about risks and potential harms. 85% of panel members said they would look at an information leaflet about the medicine included in the medication packaging. Additionally, 71% of people said they would look for information online using an NHS Scotland website. Ms Morrison said the findings indicate 'high levels of confidence' in information provided by NHS Scotland and highlight the importance of NHS branding in helping the public feel confident that the information is reliable. 'This suggests there could be scope to build on the use of NHS branding further in this area,' she said. 'These findings take on further importance in the context discussed above, where information found online may be of questionable reliability, highlighting a potential role for the NHS and healthcare professionals to play in signposting the public to reliable online information sources and supporting them in assessing the reliability of information.' The Scottish Government has been contacted for comment. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Yahoo
Woman jailed for faking twins pregnancy to partner
A woman who duped a man into believing they were having twins, until her fake baby bump was exposed in a hospital scan, has been jailed and given a restraining order. Libby Vernon, 23, from Staffordshire, spun a web of lies over 13 months after she met the man online, a court heard. She constructed a fake life about her job, home and relationship when she met him and later announced she was pregnant with him when she was not, even bursting balloons at a gender reveal party. After the case went to court, the man, from Cumbria, said his family's lives have been torn apart and he had been left grieving babies that were never real but felt real to him. Magistrates in Workington, Cumbria, heard how she met the man online and the pair spent hours chatting on a first night video call. She told him she had been in a relationship with an abusive ex-partner and was now expecting his twins. Prosecutor Pamela Fee said Vernon looked pregnant at the time. Among her stories, the 23-year-old claimed she was a partner in a nursery business and owned her own home, with a mortgage - but none of it was true, Ms Fee said. The pair began a long-distance relationship and planned a future where they would move in together and he would help raise the children. During the next three months, Vernon told him she had lost one of the twins. She claimed to have a rare condition of having two uteruses and provided a fake NHS-branded letter apparently confirming the miscarriage, the court heard. She told him the other baby was healthy and the pair "grieved together," Ms Fee said. Among Vernon's deceptions, she created a fake Facebook account and used it to send messages to the man apparently from her ex-partner – messages that were unpleasant about her and contained veiled threats. When they met, she showed signs of being pregnant, struggling to walk at Manchester's Trafford Centre in the heat. In November 2023 she sent the man fake baby photos and said: "Someone to meet you." The court heard the fake baby was named Athena and given her new partner's surname but when he asked to meet the baby, he was rebuffed. Later, the court was told Vernon pretended the baby had died of sudden infant death syndrome. The man, who received a fake death certificate image, said: "I was devastated." The court heard their relationship continued, became sexual and Vernon told the man she was pregnant with him and was expecting twins. She told him she asked at the scan for the babies' genders to be put in an envelope for a party on 16 April. "Confetti-filled balloons were burst by the couple in front of the victim's family and revealed Vernon was carrying twin boys," Ms Fee said. The pair named them Ollie and Tommy. In June, amid concern over the twins' lack of heartbeats, the man met her at a hospital. Despite Vernon's reluctance, he persuaded maternity staff to perform a scan. At that point, it was found she was wearing a fake baby bump, Ms Fee said. "Everything she had told him was lies," she added. "There were no babies. "Scan photos were false, letters were false and everything she told him about being pregnant and carrying his children was a lie." Magistrates heard the man had believed first that he would be a father to her baby girl and then to their twin boys. The pair had ordered blankets with the boys' names on them and Vernon had a plaque made of "daddy's dream team" – including football shirts and their names: Tommy, Ollie and Athena. Athena's shirt had "angel wings and a halo above it", Ms Fee said. Speaking about the babies, the man said: "I know they were never real but they are to me. They felt it to me and it's like I lost them. "None of it makes sense and I don't think I'll ever fully get my head around it." Vernon, of Moss Park Avenue, Werrington, Stoke-on-Trent, had previously pleaded guilty to 10 charges: Four counts of sending texts and one involving a photograph which conveyed false information One of sending a false death certificate Four of sending a false communication with intent to cause harm In mitigation, Mike Woolaghan said the "obvious question is why" Vernon acted as she did. "She struggled to understand the 'what' and 'why' of what she has done," he said. The court heard Vernon had described being "young and scared", expressing remorse to a probation officer and apologising to the man and his family. On Wednesday, magistrates jailed her for six months and imposed a two-year restraining order. Lead magistrate Christine Williams said: "We find that this was a sophisticated, well-planned and intentional series of deceptions designed to manipulate your victim." She said Vernon caused serious harm to the man and his family who were still grieving what to them was a "genuine loss". Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. HM Courts Service
BBC News
20-03-2025
- BBC News
Werrington woman jailed for faking twins pregnancy to partner
A woman who duped a man into believing they were having twins, until her fake baby bump was exposed in a hospital scan, has been jailed and given a restraining Vernon, 23, from Staffordshire, spun a web of lies over 13 months after she met the man online, a court constructed a fake life about her job, home and relationship when she met him and later announced she was pregnant with him when she was not, even bursting balloons at a gender reveal the case went to court, the man, from Cumbria, said his family's lives have been torn apart and he had been left grieving babies that were never real but felt real to him. Magistrates in Workington, Cumbria, heard how she met the man online and the pair spent hours chatting on a first night video told him she had been in a relationship with an abusive ex-partner and was now expecting his Pamela Fee said Vernon looked pregnant at the her stories, the 23-year-old claimed she was a partner in a nursery business and owned her own home, with a mortgage - but none of it was true, Ms Fee said. The pair began a long-distance relationship and planned a future where they would move in together and he would help raise the the next three months, Vernon told him she had lost one of the claimed to have a rare condition of having two uteruses and provided a fake NHS-branded letter apparently confirming the miscarriage, the court told him the other baby was healthy and the pair "grieved together," Ms Fee said. Among Vernon's deceptions, she created a fake Facebook account and used it to send messages to the man apparently from her ex-partner – messages that were unpleasant about her and contained veiled threats. When they met, she showed signs of being pregnant, struggling to walk at Manchester's Trafford Centre in the November 2023 she sent the man fake baby photos and said: "Someone to meet you."The court heard the fake baby was named Athena and given her new partner's surname but when he asked to meet the baby, he was the court was told Vernon pretended the baby had died of sudden infant death man, who received a fake death certificate image, said: "I was devastated." Second 'pregnancy' The court heard their relationship continued, became sexual and Vernon told the man she was pregnant with him and was expecting told him she asked at the scan for the babies' genders to be put in an envelope for a party on 16 April."Confetti-filled balloons were burst by the couple in front of the victim's family and revealed Vernon was carrying twin boys," Ms Fee pair named them Ollie and Tommy. In June, amid concern over the twins' lack of heartbeats, the man met her at a Vernon's reluctance, he persuaded maternity staff to perform a that point, it was found she was wearing a fake baby bump, Ms Fee said."Everything she had told him was lies," she added."There were no babies."Scan photos were false, letters were false and everything she told him about being pregnant and carrying his children was a lie." Magistrates heard the man had believed first that he would be a father to her baby girl and then to their twin pair had ordered blankets with the boys' names on them and Vernon had a plaque made of "daddy's dream team" – including football shirts and their names: Tommy, Ollie and shirt had "angel wings and a halo above it", Ms Fee said. Speaking about the babies, the man said: "I know they were never real but they are to me. They felt it to me and it's like I lost them."None of it makes sense and I don't think I'll ever fully get my head around it." 'Genuine loss' Vernon, of Moss Park Avenue, Werrington, Stoke-on-Trent, had previously pleaded guilty to 10 charges:Four counts of sending texts and one involving a photograph which conveyed false informationOne of sending a false death certificate Four of sending a false communication with intent to cause harm In mitigation, Mike Woolaghan said the "obvious question is why" Vernon acted as she did."She struggled to understand the 'what' and 'why' of what she has done," he court heard Vernon had described being "young and scared", expressing remorse to a probation officer and apologising to the man and his family. On Wednesday, magistrates jailed her for six months and imposed a two-year restraining magistrate Christine Williams said: "We find that this was a sophisticated, well-planned and intentional series of deceptions designed to manipulate your victim."She said Vernon caused serious harm to the man and his family who were still grieving what to them was a "genuine loss". Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
