Best Doctors has warned against the dangers of consumers using the internet for second opinions on s...
Best Doctors has warned against the dangers of consumers using the internet for second opinions on serious medical conditions.
Research conducted by the medical resources firm found 40% of people surveyed would rely on the web for finding an important second medical opinion for a serious condition rather than consulting medical sources that understand their particular case and circumstances.
The research also revealed, that when it came to seeking out a second medical opinion, almost 32% of people said they would try to tackle the problem alone without any direction and 35% would call NHS Direct which was not set up to provide this service.
Dominic Howard, director at Best Doctors in UK and Ireland, said: "There's a lot of interesting information on the internet which can help point you in the right direction but it can't take individual circumstances into account." He added that much of the internet based information was also irrelevant for consumer needs and even if it was relevant it could be difficult to interpret without the support and co-operation of a medical professional.
Through using the internet to search for opinion, Howard said society was at an increased risk of developing 'cybercondria' or forming an incorrect diagnosis by simply reading what is available online and making the symptoms fit.
He expressed concern regarding the increased number of unregulated sites that profess to help identify ailments and pay search engines to top a list. Howard said it was bound to lead to "further dangers with self-diagnosis and self-medication".
The Department of Health is currently testing an information accreditation scheme, to launch in 2009. The scheme aims to guide people to the most reliable sources of health information. Sources who meet the standard will be awarded a logo as a trustworthy source.
