What does "than was warranted" mean?

[NewHopeR]

Context:

Roughly 83% of the survey respondents completely agreed with the statement that physicians should never tell a patient something untrue. The rest either agreed somewhat or disagreed. When it came to actual ethical performance, 11% said they had told a lie to an adult patient or a child's guardian in the preceding 12 months, and 55% said that they had described a patient's prognosis in a more positive manner than was warranted.

 

[bhaisahab]

Context:

Roughly 83% of the survey respondents completely agreed with the statement that physicians should never tell a patient something untrue. The rest either agreed somewhat or disagreed. When it came to actual ethical performance, 11% said they had told a lie to an adult patient or a child's guardian in the preceding 12 months, and 55% said that they had described a patient's prognosis in a more positive manner than was warranted.

"Than was justified by the true situation."

 

[rebamaniac]

[not a teacher]
I'm fairly sure it means that the doctors exaggerated the positive aspect of the prognosis, i.e. the doctors stated a more positive prognosis than what was called for.

 

[NewHopeR]

Thank you both