The underlying message was that I should not trust what I read on the Internet and, besides, I wasn't qualified to do my own health or medical research because I didn't go to medical school. Cardiologist Haider Warraich wrote in The New York Times last year:
Doctors and nurses frequently try to discourage their patients from turning to the internet for answers. And yet patients will continue to Google their symptoms and medications because the internet doesn't require an appointment or a long wait, it is not rushed, it doesn't judge, it doesn't require a hefty co-pay and it often provides information that seems simple to understand.1The question has sometimes been asked in a light-hearted manner meant to poke a little fun. But sometimes it has been asked with a roll of the eyes and a clear sense of exasperation, creating an awkward moment. It's at that point that I've usually opted to remain quiet and let the moment pass without any further escalation. Only with a couple of doctors whom I knew personally did I answer, "Probably the same way you usually get your information, I did some research on the Internet."
Side note: Remember, the Internet is simply a delivery system, a vehicle to get somewhere. Where you choose to go is another matter.
My response was not meant to be disrespectful. It was based on my observations of doctors whenever I've asked them questions they could not readily answer. Usually, they would pick up their laptop and go online to a website or do a Google search.
A 2014 article in The Atlantic referenced a report by the IMS Institute for Healthcare Informatics that found that Wikipedia was the top source of health information for doctors. According to the article by Julie Beck, "Fifty percent of physicians use Wikipedia for information, especially for specific conditions."2
According to an annual survey by pharmaceutical media agency CMI/Compas of King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, "Online searching is a popular activity among doctors, with more than 70% of physicians using search engines-most often Google-at least once daily for professional purposes."3
Another survey conducted in the Asia-Pacific region by science and medical information firm Elsevier of the Netherlands a few years ago found that "90% of doctors rely on online search engines to aid their clinical decisions with Google being the most popular... " noted an article in The Times of India.4 "The survey found eight in ten physicians indicated that having 'instant access' to the latest reference content is 'very' and 'extremely important' in influencing their clinical decisions."4
Putting aside the fact that doctors and other medical professionals use the Internet and "Dr. Google" just like anyone else, the question then arises, "Are they more qualified to distinguish between good and bad health-related information that is found online than someone who does not have a medical degree?" My experience has been that sometimes they are and sometimes they're not. It depends on the individual and on the health issue.
I have sometimes been told by doctors that I lack the training to properly filter reliable from non-reliable health information because they are scientists and I am not. But is that always true? Are doctors scientists? Not according to Richard Smith, MD, editor in chief of The BMJ and chief executive of the BMJ Publishing Group from 1991 to 2004.
"Some doctors are scientists-just as some politicians are scientists-but most are not. As medical students they were filled full with information on biochemistry, anatomy, physiology, and other sciences, but information does not a scientist make," says Dr. Smith.5Dr. Smith explains, "A scientist is somebody who constantly questions, generates falsifiable hypotheses, and collects data from well designed experiments-the kind of people who brush their teeth on only one side of their mouth to see whether brushing your teeth has any benefit. Most doctors follow familiar patterns and rules, often improvising around those rules. In their methods of working they are more like jazz musicians than scientists."5
It is that "constantly questioning" (and searching) piece that I found disturbingly missing in many doctors. Oddly, it is perhaps that habit that many doctors find most annoying about patients who like doing their own research, along with consulting their health care providers.
This article or commentary provides referenced information and perspective on a topic related to vaccine science, policy, law or ethics being discussed in public forums and by U.S. lawmakers. The websites of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) provide information and perspective of federal agencies responsible for vaccine research, development, regulation and policymaking.
References
- Murray PM. Dr. Google Is a Liar. The New York Times Dec. 16, 2018.
- Beck J. Doctors' #1 Source for Healthcare Information: Wikipedia. The Atlantic Mar. 5, 2014.
- Snyder Bulick B. Physicians use 'Doctor Google' daily, but they still rely on traditional info sources, too: study. FiercePharma Nov. 11, 2016.
- Dey S. 90% of doctors rely on online search engines to aid clinical decisions: Survey. The Times of India Oct. 3, 2015.
- Field Notes. Richard Smith, MD on How Most Doctors are Not Scientists. The Vaccine ReactionMar. 28, 2019.
Years ago another doctor tried to tell me that Prozac did not impact the gonads, as he had never heard of that symptom. Later I discovered that painful testes WAS one of the side effects, and that doctor was completely unaware of it. Rarely do I hear doctors discuss side effects of the drugs they prescribe, which has forced me to read the pharmacy sheets and search the medical websites on the web such as the Mayo clinic for information on interaction and unusual responses. As it turned out, in rare cases, hydrochlorot DOES cause bloody stools, which happened the very day I threw my guts out. Once before I was put on two drugs the doctor had failed to determine if there was an interaction, which of course I experienced and immediately discontinued the latest drug.
Some 20 years ago I bought a book that listed all the then produced psychotropic drugs. A book 3" thick in fine print. What doctor keeps up with that volume of pharmaceutical production and interactive effects? The most common medical experience I've had in 40 years is doctors have a strong tendency not to pay strict attention to what their patient is telling them.