I am curious. For those of you who are doctors, how do you feel about answering specific, patient-related questions on the internet? Does this constitute a doctor-patient relationship? Could saying, "You could have X disease," be interpreted as diagnosing someone? Could saying, "You should try X treatment," be interpreted as giving medical advice? Would it make a difference if you were paid to answer questions?
Of course, I believe that this is a great forum for sharing knowledge and helping people, and I would hate to discourage people from doing so, but I do wonder if you feel that it is improper in any way.
2007-04-28 19:59:53 · 8 answers · asked by vegan 5 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Medicine
I'm a doctor, and I'm not worried.
I have not established a doctor-patient relationship with anyone on this forum, which is the foundation for any legal action.
Now, if payment were involved, there may be issues, and I'd be wary.
2007-04-29 13:29:56 · answer #1 · answered by Pangolin 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
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2016-05-28 07:27:21 · answer #2 · answered by Chanel 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Great question, but if I were a doc, I wouldn't respond because you could search my Q's and A's and perhaps find some really bad advise. Then I might be reported and investigated, if I were a doctor.
I agree with you there, but I don't think it is any different than asking these types of questions in any other chat room. I think anyone on the internet who takes advise from strangers takes obvious risks. On the other hand, you can get free advise that may turn out good. I think it's a fair tradeoff if you use common sense and do a little research.
2007-04-28 20:19:46 · answer #3 · answered by Johnnie5 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Even though people may be getting information, the responsiblity is on the person to gather more information and educate themselves. If they took the advice solely based on what a person has written online, then that to me would be a dumb move. No one has all the answers, medicine is constantly changing. What is good for one person today might not be tommorow. What the standard or care is today will not be the same in the future. Who would have ever thought beta blockers would improve mortality in heart failure and post MI patients 15 years ago.
2007-04-29 04:56:09 · answer #4 · answered by Doc 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Since no access to the patient or physical exam or lab work is available, a diagnosis is a guess, and all people on this site realize that. I never suggest treatment, but I will guess at obvious diagnoses without worry. No doctor-patient relationship exists.
2007-04-29 01:54:29 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Legal risk is NIL.No one on yahoo gives complete profile of a patient. So none should expect a perfect diagnosis or treatment advice on Yahoo Q and A . Even online pharmacies have disclaimers.
2007-04-28 22:44:21 · answer #6 · answered by J.SWAMY I ఇ జ స్వామి 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it's OK for doctors to give information about a medical condition or treatment. Then the person can be better informed when they talk to their own doctor.
2007-04-29 02:18:43 · answer #7 · answered by michael971 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
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2007-04-28 20:03:12 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋