Medical fake as a linguistic phenomenon

The article examines medical fakes as a linguistic phenomenon within popular medical discourse. The study describes the nature of medical fakes, explores their distinctive features, methods of spreading, and impact on public opinion. A key point of the research is that medical fakes, despite their pseudoscientific nature, possess significant manipulative power, which can have dangerous consequences for public health. The introduction establishes the context of the study, emphasizing the growing popularization of medical knowledge in media and highlighting the problems arising from the spread of unreliable information. The work employs methods of conceptual modeling, content analysis, interpretive analysis, and elements of quantitative analysis. By analyzing 150 text fragments reflecting popular medical discourse, two main types of medical fakes are identified: one group consists of deliberately false information aimed at manipulating opinions, while the other comprises partially unreliable data characterized by the selective use of truthful facts but distorted interpretations. Main compositional features of fake publications are outlined. For example, headlines manifested by provocative expressions and numerals serve to attract readers' attention, while the content often contains distorted information lacking reliable references. An important aspect is the use of medical terminology to create an illusion of scientific validity. The author emphasizes the necessity of a critical approach to medical information and calls for thorough analysis of data sources. Thus, the core argument of the article is that medical fakes, being at the crossroads of medicine and language, represent a serious threat to public health and require careful study and discussion in the context of popularizing scientific knowledge