Medical Doctors vs. Medical 'Googlers'

Filed in archive Cases , Opinion on January 22, 2008

Liz of Healthbolt have raised a important issue about what doctors think about medical 'googlers'.

Medical 'googler' is defined as a person who researches his/her symptoms, illness, and doctors on the internet before seeking treatment.

In the said blog entry, Liz presented the opposing point of views of two different doctors about medical googlers.

Well, I commented and said that I am a kind of a medical googler myself. I do research symptoms and illnesses.

That's basically what I do as a blogger for various health blogs. For personal usage, I research all I can get from the internet about a certain condition that I either have suffered or is suffering at the moment, but only for the very reason that I want to be knowledgeable about it. Not to diagnose or treat myself. I still think that going to the doctor is the best thing to do.

Besides, where I am, I cannot google a doctor and consult online or by telephone. That is just not possible here in the Philippines. You have to visit the doctor's clinic for that.

Enlighten me on this: How rampant practice is it in the U.S or in other countries, that a patient will first research his/her symptoms, illness, and doctors on the internet before seeking treatment?

[Photo Credit]