I try to encourage all my patients to go online and do their research. After all, I have hundreds of cases to study each month, but they usually only have one, extremely important one... their own! In other words, anyone who really wants good health should seek out sources of knowledge in order to debate and choose what is best for them. For me, insecure, outdated or overbearing health professionals are those who are afraid of patients getting tips from “Dr. Google”. Time and time again, I've learned a lot from what patients come up with in their digital wanderings and research.
What patients can't do is think that internet searches will replace good consultations with really good professionals. Who will correlate everything? Who will pay attention to individualities? Who will help with specific doubts and complications? Who will add humanity and interest to the approach, diagnosis and treatment?
Added to this, it is not appropriate for patients to rely on bad websites or health professionals and, as a result, want to adopt (or force) unreasonable and even dangerous points of view and health practices. Good sources often provide good information, but your critical judgment should always prevail. Always ask, for example, if source X wants to do you good, if it has experience (theory and practice) in what it is informing you about, if it doesn't have unfounded prejudices or if it is often the “owner of reason”.
See here some tips on good websites and professionals for you to choose your source of knowledge. After all, Dr. Google, when used well, certainly helps, but when used badly, it can cause sequelae and even be fatal!
Tip: Stay away from bad sources and look for good sources of knowledge (and not necessarily the most famous or followed ones, avoiding the “herd effect”) - your health will thank you very much, and everyone wins!
Seek out those who accept advice and help for your benefit. Know-it-alls who “think they know or can do everything” hurt thousands of people every day. Don't be another victim and go after quality information for you and your case!
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