Dr Fergus Brown

Clinical Fact Checker (former)

Fergus joined Full Fact in December 2022, as part of a new team tackling health misinformation. Before this, he had been working as a junior doctor, including a stint in Public Health, and as a Royal College of Psychiatrists Foundation Fellow.

31 March 2023

Mammogram radiation levels aren’t comparable with nuclear bomb

An old video contains false claims about the amount of radiation in mammograms and the effect of screening on death rates.

30 March 2023

Gorillas’ diet doesn’t mean protein does not exist

A video on social media falsely claims that protein doesn’t exist, based on the idea that a gorilla’s diet doesn’t include any. But gorillas do eat a large amount of this essential nutrient.

27 March 2023

No evidence Covid-19 vaccines have killed thousands of children

An Instagram post wrongly claims that no “healthy” children have died from Covid-19, and that the vaccines have killed thousands.

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21 March 2023

Eating bugs hasn’t been shown to cause cancer or lung disease

A social media post claims that eating insects causes disease. But the evidence it cites does not support this.

21 March 2023

Misleading claims about ginger and cancer

A Facebook post claiming ginger kills 91% of leukaemia cells omits some important details.

17 March 2023

Instagram post's claims about myocarditis in children not supported by official data

Social media claims that 1 in 40 children now get myocarditis are based on limited evidence—and ignore official evidence to the contrary.

15 March 2023

‘Vitamin B17’ from apricot seeds does not cure cancer

It’s been claimed on social media that amygdalin, a substance found in some nuts and seeds, kills cancer cells. The evidence for treating cancer is not there, and the substance can be harmful.

14 March 2023

Research on long term effects of childhood infections misreported

Research showing increased risk of premature death from respiratory conditions in people who had chest infections as children has been reported on by the Sun–but with several errors.

28 February 2023

The WHO is not working on vaccines to create ‘permanent sterility’

Clips from a 2009 TV show falsely claim the World Health Organisation wants to depopulate the world using vaccines.

27 February 2023

Kate Shemirani makes several false claims about childhood vaccines

Claims that children get almost 100 vaccines, that none are safe or effective, and that no vaccines have ever been trialled together are all false.

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About

Dr Fergus Brown

Clinical Fact Checker (former)

Mammogram radiation levels aren’t comparable with nuclear bomb

Gorillas’ diet doesn’t mean protein does not exist

No evidence Covid-19 vaccines have killed thousands of children

Eating bugs hasn’t been shown to cause cancer or lung disease

Misleading claims about ginger and cancer

Instagram post's claims about myocarditis in children not supported by official data

‘Vitamin B17’ from apricot seeds does not cure cancer

Research on long term effects of childhood infections misreported

The WHO is not working on vaccines to create ‘permanent sterility’

Kate Shemirani makes several false claims about childhood vaccines

Full Fact fights bad information