A submissives journey - How to use Medical Information on the Internet

You don’t have to be a genius to know that major organizations like the American Cancer Society and the National Cancer Institute provide more than reliable information than the homepage of a cancer clinic in Tijuana. If a well-respected medical center has a Web Site, the information it provides is likely to have been reviewed by experts; on the other hand, it a site seems to be set up to hawk a specific product, book, or service, be skeptical. Unfortunately, the line between legit and loony is not always easy to draw. Even the American Cancer Society site includes links to Web pages that offer dubious advice. "We do our best to screen the sites we provide for," says the ACS/s director of information technology, David Harris. "But we are careful to include a disclaimer that tells people when they are leaving our site and going to another, reminding them that the information they find may not be reliable." But the fact that the link is included suggests a tacit seal of approval.

Tab Web Resources For What They Do Best

Discussion groups may be a wonderful source of support, but they are not a source for reliable information about treatment. Rely on the expertise of trusted sources for the latest news updates, for access to clinical trial information, or for emotional support.

Dig A Little Deeper

If you hear about something promising, experts say, use the Net to investigate it further before you accept it as the truth. If you read about some herbal miracle, consult several alternative medicine sites to see if they concur on the purported benefits. Be sure to check the date of any information you find. The field of medicine is changing fast, and out-of-date information can lead you astray.

Finally, "Ask Your Doctor"

The net may be a great resource, but it is not your physician. The internet can provide a tremendous resource, but the primary health-care provider is still responsible for a patient’s care. The internet is never going to replace that.

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