Internet Diagnosis Can Backfire

Most people have use the Internet at least once to look up a medical symptom. According to recent online news story using the Internet for medical diagnosis can backfire. According to medical experts there is danger in self-diagnosis especially fueled by additional information from the Internet. Patients are likely to read through blogs and identify with for stories that are at the very least not applicable to their situation. Medical experts advised that patients take what they read with a grain of salt. Although it does help when patients are educated according to experts most advised that patients take with websites that have reliable sources. Usually the big university clinics have good web sites. Those are the ones you kind of want to stay with, he said. While this season most of the medical inquiries are related to the flu, medical inquiries are ongoing staple on the Internet. Plastic surgery is no exception. Dr. Kim often speaks with patients who have scoured dozens of websites in search of information. Some of the information can be useful and the certifying board for Dr. Kim, The American Society of Plastic Surgeons, has a reliable website chocked full of specific information as it relates to procedures, regulations, and a directory of members in good standing. Patient should maintain an open mind regarding Dr. Kim’s recommendations for surgery. It is not advisable to provide a final diagnosis to a patient over the phone or through the Internet. Patients were considering procedures like breast augmentation should insist upon an in person consultation to determine if in fact they are a good candidate for the procedure. Dr. Kim encourages patients were considering breast augmentation to contact him and schedule a consultation.