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Googling Medical Advice? Not A Valid Solution
When it comes to diagnosis or interpretation of test results, consult your physician.
I get it. Really, I do. For years, I was a nurse. If something seemed “off” with me or one of my sons, I’d look up the symptoms. But they were young before the internet was old. My source of information was either my nursing textbooks (I was a pediatric nurse practitioner) or my husband’s medical texts. They were written by professionals practicing patient care.
Today, I find that a lot of people turn to the internet for information or advice, even on medical issues. While I think it’s fine to use google to gather some preliminary information to help you understand what might be causing you or a beloved family member some health concerns, it cannot be your sole source of information. Nor, should it be used to correct your health care provider. Google does not have a medical degree.
What most people do not realize about medical practice is that it is an art as well as a science. Years of preparation, first broadly and then, more specifically, involve the accruing of knowledge and then, hands-on experiences augment the book knowledge. Those experiences, with patients that have come before you or your loved one, shape the physicians’ assessment of whatever symptoms you are…
