RIYADH — The Ministry of Health said it has monitored the circulation of misleading information on social media regarding cholesterol-lowering statin medications, following the spread of a video that prompted some patients to stop taking their prescribed treatment without consulting their doctors.The ministry warned that discontinuing medication without medical supervision could expose patients to direct health risks.It stressed that cholesterol-lowering drugs, including statins, are safe and approved both internationally and locally by the Saudi Food and Drug Authority, and are widely used to prevent heart disease, strokes and related complications.The ministry emphasized that any treatment decision must be made under the supervision of a qualified physician, noting that using or stopping medication without medical consultation may pose serious health risks.It said the physician who appeared in the circulated content has been summoned to provide clarification regarding the statements made in the video.The ministry added that it has begun taking legal action against anyone found to have published misleading medical information or violated professional healthcare ethics, in order to safeguard public health.The ministry urged the public to obtain medical information from reliable, accredited sources and avoid being influenced by inaccurate claims.It also called on media outlets to verify the accuracy of health-related content and reminded healthcare practitioners of the importance of adhering to professional ethics and avoiding unverified statements.