Is it good to be an e-patient?
As defined by Wikipedia, an e-patient is someone who is a health consumer who uses the Internet to receive information about a medical condition. E-patients also known as Internet patients go online to seek guidance for health conditions. In the Wikipedia, e-Patients have reported that due to their online medical research, they have received “better health information and/or services, and different (but not always better) relationships with their doctors.” [1]
IS THIS ALWAYS TRUE????
View this video and then evaluate this definition.
This tale of two patients is very controversial. One patient seeked help from a doctor she found on the internet and now is a cancer survivor of 3 years. The other patient resorted to remedies online preventing the need to seek medical advice from her physician resulting in the loss of her life.
While many e-patients immediately resort to the internet for medical advice, it may not always be the answer. As many consumers do, they find the worst diagnosis for the medical condition they are researching about and immediately diagnose themselves, contacting their doctor immediately. Others find online cures, vitamins, remedies, and feel they can treat themselves.
Physicians, medical providers, and those who are giving health advice need to be up to date with information provided and possibly indicate that their information is “NOT A GIVEN DIAGNOSIS OR CURE!”
The internet is a very influential resource and being an e-patient may or may not benefit your health. May it be right or wrong, do not hesitate to CONTACT A PHYSICIAN!!!!!
[1]Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E-Patient
