Illustrative writing sample — an outline of a fact-checking approach, not evidence of prior assignments, clients or endorsements. No specific medical claim is assessed here.
Begin by stating the claim precisely. Broad or dramatic wording can combine several different propositions. Identify what is being claimed about a population, an intervention or exposure, an outcome, and the conditions or timeframe involved.
Trace the claim to its sources, working back to the original evidence where possible. A summary or news report may omit important qualifications. Check whether a cited source actually supports the wording, and whether later evidence changes the context. Do not treat repetition across publications as independent confirmation.
Check who or what was studied, how the comparison was made, and which outcomes were measured. Separate association from causation: an observed relationship does not by itself show that one factor caused another. Look for plausible alternative explanations and note design limitations that affect what can be concluded.
Communicate what is known, what remains uncertain, and how closely the evidence matches the claim. If the evidence is limited or mixed, say so plainly rather than forcing a definitive verdict. The conclusion should not exceed what the sources can support.
References: No specific claim, study or citation is supplied for this illustrative example. A published fact-check should provide traceable sources and make clear which statements each source supports.
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