Online medical information using the internet for finding health can help you make more informed decisions about your health, but it is not a substitute for seeing a doctor. Some health information available on the Internet may be valuable, but you should be aware of the risks as medical misinformation or “cyber quackery” is widespread.

It’s important to know how to recognize a legitimate website. Beware of fraudulent and dubious information and do not self-diagnose or self-treat for online medical information. Always consult your doctor for proper diagnosis and treatment advice.

Risk of self-diagnosis 

It is important not to spend online medical information for self-diagnosis or self-treatment. Always consult a physician or other medical professional registered with the Australian Healthcare Professional Regulatory Authority (AHPRA).

Self-diagnosis using a medical website is always difficult because the information provided is related to a particular medical condition rather than a particular situation. For example, if you enter the symptom “abdominal pain” in a search engine on a general health and medical website, you may see more information about gastritis, appendicitis, irritable bowel syndrome, or gastroenteritis.

It is a mistake to consider these suggestions as diagnostics. Abdominal pain can be caused by the accumulation of gas after eating baked beans and eggs for lunch. Or it may indicate a life-threatening emergency.

Beware of online health and medical products

A huge range of health and medical products are sold online. It is very difficult to distinguish between good and bad products on the internet. Please consult your doctor or medical professional carefully before letting go of your money.

Some products are available from reputable companies, while others are sold by malicious people who want to get rich from deceived online consumers. The product you purchased may be counterfeit, contain harmful ingredients not listed on the label, or may not be suitable for your condition.

Thinking about the questions you ask your doctor 

Knowing more about your health using the Internet will help you decide which questions to ask your doctor. However, it is no substitute for getting good and reliable information from your doctor. Always consult your doctor for diagnostic and treatment recommendations.

It is recommended that you discuss the online health information you find with your doctor or other medical professional. However, don’t assume that you have enough time to read the information on multiple pages.

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