DO YOU REALIZE THE HARM YOU COULD DO BY ASKING OR ANSWERING MEDICAL QUESTIONS online?

Question

Please, stay out of this catagory if you are not QUALIFIED to answer medical questions. You may be putting people in great danger. No matter your intention, your OPINION is not appropriate.Even if you can relate to the question because of personal experience, your experience is your experience. You have no idea, nor are you qualified to give medical advise OF ANY KIND. You may think that your answer is helpful, but it is not if you are not medically trained. Also, no matter your answer, you are considered to be giving medical advise, and in that, you are committing a felony. You say, how could answering a simple question be this serious? Well, it is. if you are doubtful, just call your local AMA ,(American Medical Association) and you will be told the same.

ASKING medical questions is as bad. Do you want to take the chance that you are choosing an answer that may put you in grave danger? Do not ask at all.

Grizz

Psych. Therapist, Cardiology/Cardiac Rehab.

After reading the first ten answers, with the exception of few, ( and they know who they are) these comments are just what I expected. People are going to do what they want, regardless of warning and regardless of professional plea. Insurance is a huge problem in this country, and it is criminal that people have to suffer so. We don't want to add to this, however, by taking such chances on this site. The ignorance has shown itself here, too ,as seen by the answers to my question. I have come to understand after only a short time on Y. that the depth of not only ignorance, but stupidity ,is so dominant that It makes even me hesitant to contribute.

Answer 1

The questions on this site are for the most part written by consenting adults. People should know their health is their responsibility and the answers to their questions do not substitute for legitmate medical advice. And you should know, as a psych therapist, people do what they want anyway!

Answer 2

1

Answer 3

And your Opinion is simply that. your opinion. I suggest you go to school and become a lawyer before you start giving legal advise about what a Felony is and is not. Yahoo goes all around the world and you could not possible know what country people are writing in from or their local laws therefore you can't truly say that they have committed any offense. Show me the penal code that says it is a Felony to give medical advise even in the United States. If people giving advise on Yahoo offends you perhaps you need to find another place to post. Sit down and enjoy the ride.

Answer 4

Great advice! I always state I'm a student and ALWAYS tell people that are looking for a diagnosis to see a doctor. I will answer stuff like "what are the side effects of a certain drug?'' and stuff I can give a source for.
I will NOT answer, "what kind of rash do I have?" and stuff that needs a diagnosis. It is sad that people don't have insurance and feel forced to get help online, but it is not safe!!

Answer 5

WHY do you think that Yahoo has a disclaimer? It states that none of us are licensed to provide any kind of technical answer.

I think that sometimes people get more out discussing things among themselves than they do with doctors. Everyone on here knows what to follow and what not to. Some times they just need a place to vent. You want people to stay out of here unless they are doctors? How many doctors do you know that are going to come and play with us and give us free medical advise? None that I know.

What about the numbers you can call and get a nurse on the phone? You tell her your problem and she looks it up and reads you the answer. You think that is O.K.?

Go away, you are annoying..................

Answer 6

I always hated being on call for our practice. You cover all the out patient, in patient, and nursing homes. When you get called by a patient about a problem, like a stomach ache, what the heck will I be able to do over the phone for them. Invariably, when I am on call if they complain about chest pain, shortness of breath, belly pain my first response is GO TO ER. If someone is coughing with sputum, GO TO ER, you may have bronchitis but i can't miss a pneumonia. You know the number one thing on my mind is not money (cause its a crap job for its pay) but it is DONT GET SUED and hopefully do the right thing at the same time. Answering some of these questions do remind me of being on call.

Answer 7

It's pretty much a no brainer that the ppl on Yahoo Q&A's are not all qualified doctors and therapists but perhaps a few are.However,if a person is that desperate to take the advise of children and unlisensed professionals then that's their own fault.

Answer 8

Yeah, like medical professionals don't kill hundreds of thousands of people every year. Forget advice on the internet, even medical advice from a professional should be taken with a grain of salt.

Answer 9

I use to advise most people asking questions to see their doctor, but after your answer I think I told them wrong. I had 5 doctors blow my cancer off, it was my cat that told me I had problems...and this is not a place for doctors alone, these people are more interested in what other people have gone through than what a doctor has to say. It is only a felony if we mislead people to think we are a doctor, and that is only so doctors can charge people tons of money for a 5 min. visit to have their temperature taken. I was a doctors assoc., and I know what most doctors have on their minds.

Answer 10

I do see your point to an extent. And for the people that did have something useful to say, i see their point too. But if this is a real concern to you and you think that its harmful to people then maybe you should write to Yahoo and tell them to do something about it instead of coming on here to voice your opinions. Because no one here can do anything about it, but you should contact yahoo and tell them the same thing and see what they say.

As for me, i also dont give people advice concerning actions they should take about their health, unless its something i have experience in or if its patient educating other than that i tell them to consult their physician. that's the wise thing to do, and if people here are giving them advice that is incorrect then their stupid enough to take that advice and use it.