Concerns with the Proliferation of “Ask a Doctor” Websites

Posted 03-14-2009 3:40 am by
With the popularity of the Internet reaching new heights, more and more you will encounter “Ask a Doctor” websites popping up.

With sites like WebMD.com, DoctorsLounge.com and Wikipedia.org, savvy and inexperienced Internet users alike are beginning to take it upon themselves to diagnose and treat their own ailments.  What users do not fully realize is that the Internet is a hot-house of marketing and advertising opportunities disguised as helpful advice.  So, while they may think they are getting a valuable online doctor consultation, they may actually be receiving incorrect information.

Some “Ask a Doctor” sites have no scruples about providing solutions to common ailments that may not serve in the best interest of the person with the ailment.  “Ask a Doctor” sites provide blanket offers and online prescriptions or treatments without consideration of individual-specific conditions and symptoms.  Magic bullets are sold in the thousands daily, without any type of background review of the patients’ history, environment or specific symptoms.  Wild guarantees are made.  Trial offers are accessible, which turn into hidden, on-going charges to users’ credit cards.  Online consultations and prescriptions are granted without review of either current medical conditions nor other prescriptions, which may create conflicts in medications.  Although some “Ask a Doctor” sites may indeed have the best interests in mind for their users, their advice can be misinterpreted or misconstrued with regard to possible medical complications overlooked by users.

Ask A Doctor sites may even run the risk of providing false hope or minimization of a potentially serious condition by making wild claims for providing online doctor consultations and prescriptions.  As an example, if a user visits an “Ask a Doctor” site with the complaint of acid indigestion, they may be steered to simply double their dose of over the counter medication, when the actual cause of the indigestion may be a Hiatal Hernia for which a double dose of medication will have absolute no effect.  

While it is convenient and private to visit “Ask a Doctor” websites for general knowledge about certain common ailments, there is nothing that compares to consulting with an actual doctor. Personally consulting with a certified physician can uncover symptoms, conditions and the best treatment plans that a static “Ask a Doctor” website just cannot do.

After all, this is not gardening advice, this is your health.  Gather general information about your symptoms and ailments and then consult with a real doctor by clicking on the “Request a Consult” button above.  While these sites are good for gathering general information, don’t rely on an “Ask a Doctor” site alone when it comes to your health - trust KoolDocs to help you get the quality online doctor consultation and prescription you need.

Get a Prescription Online at www.KoolDocs.com Your #1 Source for Online Medical Consultations and Online Prescriptions.

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