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Medical Websites: A Modest Proposal

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Six long, strenuous months have passed since the last doctor’s appointment and the pain increases rapidly. Busy schedules prevent many individuals from scheduling a second appointment, and when this occurs people seek comfort through the internet. Medical websites provide copious amounts of information on diseases, symptoms, and alternative methods of treatment but they are not a cure for diagnosis. These websites produce harmful effects on the mental health of patients, and they should resist the urge to google a treatment plan before the doctor diagnoses one. The equipment and resources available at clinics and hospitals provide more accuracy than the internet ever will. Lennox Hospital director Arun Swaminath directly approaches the argument by performing a study to see where patients gather information. They discovered “over 90 percent of patients searched the internet for …show more content…

Martin Weiser, Stuart H.Q. Chair at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, believes the advice provided “helps frame the cancer treatment discussion, set expectations, inform patients about complex therapies and support their participation in a difficult decision-making process” (Weiser). His job ensures each individual gains full awareness of their symptoms and which treatment plan is best, whether they get all the information from a physician or only some. The feeling is mutual with Lisa Hanchey, author of “WebMD: good or bad medicine?’ She focuses her article around the opinions of doctors. For example, Dr. Gautum explicitly states “an informed patient is one who is going to help me take care of them” (Hanchey). The doctors mentioned in her article all agree, a patient calling with questions of concern will benefit them rather than cause anxiety. Weiser and Hanchey reach a common ground because the results provided online are resourceful, but a doctor’s visit should occur shortly

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