How to tell whether 'experts' know their stuff

"I'm not a real doctor, but I play one on TV. And I'd like to tell you about …" The camera closes in on the earnest, distinguished-looking actor, who holds up a box of pills and tells us how much we need them.

He may not be a doctor, but he's standing on a set that looks like a hospital room, he's wearing a lab coat complete with name tag and hospital logo, and he even has a stethoscope around his neck. Despite his disclaimer, he sure looks like an expert.

Perhaps you remember the commercial. It has stuck in my memory as an example of incredible chutzpah, as well as of how much faith we want to put in such experts, even when we know they aren't.

It is very seldom that people who claim expertise are that blatant about their limitations. Most experts - those who are self-proclaimed or those to whom the rest of us award such a title - usually spend their time trying to build up or reinforce their expert status rather than trying to put it in a realistic perspective.

Whether it is alternative medicine, the latest fitness fad, the self-help theory of the moment, or the newly discovered (but somehow ancient) key to wisdom and fulfillment, there seem to be plenty of people in any Google search, on almost every TV channel, and whose books fill bookstore shelves who are more than willing to offer us their expertise.

It's hard knowing what to make of such self-proclaimed experts and their claims to be able to heal us body, mind and soul. I think most of us even would like to believe them, especially when what they promote sounds like a simple and easy solution to a complex problem.

Fortunately, we can ask some questions that can help us sort fact from fiction and truth from fantasy:

• Do these experts have any background that suggests they know what they are talking about? Education, training and experience aren't everything, but they do count for something.

• Have other knowledgeable people confirmed their expertise? This is especially true in medicine, where it is possible through research to validate or challenge claims about new or alternative treatments or medicines. Various journals and websites offer access to such research; choose those sponsored by mainstream professional associations or organizations, not those sponsored by people who want to sell you something.

• Has a broader community affirmed these experts over time? This is important when we consider faith and religious beliefs. A surprisingly consistent value system underlies most of the world's religions. This value system stresses the sanctity of life and a benevolent deity. And such values have been affirmed by generations of believers. Religious "experts" or leaders who promote a value system radically different from that which has arisen from centuries of searching for truth are likely leading in the wrong direction.

• What are these experts' motivations? If there seems to be a good dose of self-aggrandizement, power and prestige, or financial gain involved in their claims, be skeptical. Are they honest about the limits of their expertise? Are they willing to confess what they don't know as readily as they are to proclaim their expert knowledge?

• Do these experts' claims make sense? Some just don't. And if it sounds too good to be true, it usually is.

I know there are exceptions to the above rules. Think of chiropractors. Think of the people who first promoted some of the alternative or natural remedies that have become mainstream. Think of the mental health professionals who introduced family therapy or biofeedback. Think of the founders of most of today's accepted religions.

All such "experts" were, at one time, considered to be of questionable veracity. Their expertise, however, has stood the test of time and is accepted by a good many of us.

When it comes to experts, then, I suggest we exercise a good bit of caution. In fact, you might just say that's my "expert" advice.

• Dr. Ken Potts is on the staff of Samaritan Counseling Center in Naperville and Downers Grove. He is the author of "Mix Don't Blend, A Guide to Dating, Engagement and Remarriage With Children."