Physician vs Internet: Who’s Your Doctor?
Every physician I have spoken with recently has smiled and nodded in understanding when we talk about our wonderful patients and their adventures with the Internet. There is an emerging phenomenon where folks are showing up in medical offices across the country locked and loaded with endless streams of data they’ve managed to retrieve from the Internet in their pursuit of answers — where did these red spots on my tummy come from; what does this persistent cough mean; what do you mean oatmeal doesn’t lower cholesterol? These Internet interludes result in what I refer to as the “Internet Printout Under the Arm” sign. As soon as we enter the consultation room, the patient will whip that wad of wisdom out from their armpit, and then there are three of us in the room — the patient, the physician and the Internet.
