Deepfake videos of doctors threaten trust in telehealth and digital care

A patient recently presented a video that appeared to show her physician in a white coat, recommending an over‑the‑counter hormone supplement and disparaging standard treatments. The doctor confirmed the video was never recorded by her and was a synthetic recreation.

Investigations have uncovered multiple instances where AI‑generated videos impersonate specific clinicians, naming them to market supplements and other unregulated products on major social platforms. These deepfakes are built from publicly available recordings such as interviews and webinars.

The rise of medical deepfakes pushes misinformation beyond traditional content problems. By eroding the credibility of digital care tools-from telehealth visits to patient portals and social media-these fabrications raise urgent questions about how patients can trust the sources of medical advice.