Track fake health news on social media in Tamil Nadu (IN) & take action on health quacks


Track fake health news on social media in Tamil Nadu (IN) & take action on health quacks
The Issue
Recently, an increased number of fake health news is being spread by some social miscreants through social media such as Facebook and WhatsApp, which monger fear among the public on the issue of vaccination - especially, with the forthcoming Measles-Rubella vaccine campaign in mind the fake news claims that the vaccine is harmful and that it is being forced upon the public. This creates a negative emotion among the public and evidently increasing numbers of people in Tamil Nadu are afraid of vaccinating their children. So, we, a team of journalists, scientists and medical doctors would like to request the Tamil Nadu government's ministry of health and the police department to identify, track and plausibly take action on the miscreants that monger fear.
Additionally, we also insist the government and the ministry to investigate and to possibly take action on the quacks (those people who practice on people and promise "cures" without holding a proper medical practitioners' license) that encourage and support such fake news for their own benefit.
Petitioners:
Dr Vijay Shankar Balakrishnan, PhD., Science/Health Journalist, Germany
Dr Viduthalai Rasheedkhan Regina, PhD., Researcher, Singapore
Dr Sudhagar Pitchaimuthu, PhD., Researcher, United Kingdom
Dr Boopathi Ayyakkannu, MPT (Neuro Rehabilitation), Chennai, India
Mr Nirmal Rajah, Educational Coordinator, Dubai

The Issue
Recently, an increased number of fake health news is being spread by some social miscreants through social media such as Facebook and WhatsApp, which monger fear among the public on the issue of vaccination - especially, with the forthcoming Measles-Rubella vaccine campaign in mind the fake news claims that the vaccine is harmful and that it is being forced upon the public. This creates a negative emotion among the public and evidently increasing numbers of people in Tamil Nadu are afraid of vaccinating their children. So, we, a team of journalists, scientists and medical doctors would like to request the Tamil Nadu government's ministry of health and the police department to identify, track and plausibly take action on the miscreants that monger fear.
Additionally, we also insist the government and the ministry to investigate and to possibly take action on the quacks (those people who practice on people and promise "cures" without holding a proper medical practitioners' license) that encourage and support such fake news for their own benefit.
Petitioners:
Dr Vijay Shankar Balakrishnan, PhD., Science/Health Journalist, Germany
Dr Viduthalai Rasheedkhan Regina, PhD., Researcher, Singapore
Dr Sudhagar Pitchaimuthu, PhD., Researcher, United Kingdom
Dr Boopathi Ayyakkannu, MPT (Neuro Rehabilitation), Chennai, India
Mr Nirmal Rajah, Educational Coordinator, Dubai

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Petition created on 29 January 2017