Herald, The; Glasgow (UK) (May 27, 10:33 AM) There are an estimated 111 million of them out there.
Q: Doing what?
A: Browsing the internet for health advice.
Q: Surely a trend to be encouraged?
A: That depends.
Q: On?
A: Who is doing the surfing, where, and how often. Medics welcome people taking more responsibility for ensuring their own good health, or finding more information about conditions or procedures. E-consultations and e-surgeries have also brought real benefits to people living in areas far away from hospitals and GPs. But there is evidence the net is becoming the equivalent of the Big Bumper Book of 101 Diseases and Ailments.
Q: Meaning?
A: Some people are using it to diagnose themselves, or get a second opinion. In short, the net is becoming a haven for hypochondriacs. According to a survey for the Health on the Net Foundation, around half the population go to it for a second opinion. The real risks lie in self-diagnosis, however.
Q: Why should we worry?
A: Because a little medical knowledge can sometimes be a dangerous thing. As Dr Paul Cundy of the British Medical Association told BBC World's Click Online: "The problem with these self- diagnosis websites is that it is a misnomer. The concept of diagnosis is that you engage in a consultation, and maybe investigations, with a professional, and after that you agree on a diagnosis."
Q: In contrast to what happens on some sites?
A: Exactly. A visit to certain on-line clinics involves answering lots of questions, thereby raising anxiety on the part of the "patient", before the ultimate surgical procedure is performed.
Q: Which is?
A: Extraction of credit card details.
Q: How should I proceed then, Dr Briefing?
A: Visit the Health on the Net Foundation at www.hon.ch for more advice, or go low-tech and visit a doctor.
