How we check
This page explains which rumors we check, how we verify them, what our ratings mean, how we correct mistakes, and how we handle the information you send us.
What we check
We check rumors and circulating claims about medicines, dietary supplements, natural remedies and vaccines that people in Jordan report to us or ask us about. We do not provide personal medical advice, and this service is not for reporting medication errors or side effects. For decisions about your own treatment, please consult a pharmacist or physician.
How we verify a rumor
- ReceivingSubmissions arrive through the reporting page and are read only by the AME team.
- Grouping and prioritizingSimilar reports are grouped together. We decide what to check first using a risk assessment adapted from World Health Organization guidance, which looks at potential harm, the people affected, how widely and how quickly the rumor is spreading, and whether people are acting on it.
- Researching the evidenceWe consult official regulators and health authorities, systematic reviews and recognized medical references. Every result relies on at least two sources, including at least one primary source.
- RatingEach claim receives an accuracy rating and, separately, a risk level.
- Pharmacist reviewEvery result is reviewed and approved by a licensed pharmacist before it is published.
- Publishing and updatingResults are published on the Checked Rumors page with their sources and dates, and are updated when the evidence changes.
Each result starts with the fact, mentions the rumor once, explains why it is misleading, and ends with what to do. This format follows research on how corrections are best understood and remembered.
What our ratings mean
Every result carries two separate ratings: how accurate the claim is, and how much harm it could cause. A claim can be false but low risk, or partly true but high risk.
Accuracy, from most to least accurate
| Supported by evidence | Reliable, high-quality evidence supports the claim. |
| Needs clarification | The core of the claim is correct, but an essential clarification is missing, such as who it applies to, the dose, the duration or important exceptions. Without it, people may act on the claim in the wrong way. |
| Exaggerated | The claim contains some truth but overstates the effect, the certainty or who it applies to. |
| No supporting evidence | There is no reliable evidence that supports the claim. |
| Contradicted by evidence | Reliable evidence shows the claim is false. |
Risk of harm
| High | The rumor could cause serious harm, affects vulnerable groups such as children, pregnant women, older adults or people with chronic disease, or is spreading across several channels with signs that people are acting on it. We aim to publish these within 48 hours. |
| Moderate | The rumor could cause some harm or confusion and is appearing in more than one place, with limited signs that people are acting on it. |
| Low | The rumor has little potential for harm and limited circulation. |
Corrections policy
If we make a mistake, or if new evidence changes a result, we correct it promptly. The corrected result shows a correction note with the date and a description of what changed, and it is listed in the corrections log below. Minor wording changes are not listed.
To request a correction, email us with the title of the result and the reason: info@ame.org.jo
Corrections log
No corrections have been made so far.
Your information
You can report a rumor without giving any personal details. If you choose to provide your name, email address or phone number and tick the consent box, we use these details only to contact you about your submission.
Your details are seen only by the AME team, are never published and are not shared with others. Rumors we publish are paraphrased so that no one can be identified.
You may withdraw your consent at any time by emailing info@ame.org.jo