With so much information at our fingertips these days with the internet, even a well educated and self empowered patient can get caught up in what I call "Google syndrome". Google syndrome can be summed up by this defnition "a well intentioned effort to educate one self regarding health problems, prognosis, symptoms and potential outcomes through the search engine Google to the point where everything you read you believe and take to heart as being the truth because you found the information through Google".
Okay, I made up that definition and the term Google syndrome, but I think it illustrates a point I am trying to make. Not everything you read in the press, magazines, or even on the internet can be taken as being the God's honest truth about anything. That is why many organizations such as the Oklahoma Brain Tumor Foundation, American Cancer Society and other health advocacy organizations will typically provide you a list of suggested websites you can visit to find good, reliable information regarding your health.
Please don't listen to just any Tom, Dick or Harry regarding your health. Be selective and use only credible sites that are known to provide reliable and accurate information. There are many good sites avialable for you to use and there are many sites that aren't. You must be selective in what you allow yourself to read and who you allow to influence your health care decisions.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
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1 comments:
Nancy,
The loss of your baby son is a tremendous personal tragedy, and you are to be congratulated and commended for channeling your pain into constructive action, by founding the OBTF.
Thank you also for coining the term "Google Syndrome". Your word of caution is right on the mark. In the current internet age, many unreliable sites provide incomplete information or mis-information that can be very counter-productive.
I would however take this even one step further, and add that reliable web sites as well, offer a pseudo-empowerment that often leaves the lay person more confused than educated. My point is, that while there are many truly excellent resources on the internet that do provide priceless information, the application of that information to individual cases usually requires a medical-professional perspective.
While patients absolutely must educate themselves as best they can, they are well-advised to seek out leading medical specialists to help guide them towards the most promising medical solution that is best for them.
Joseph Straus, MD
Raphael Medical, LLC
314 • 434 9884
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