Why do people often ask medical questions on yahoo answers and don't ask doctors instead?

Answer 1

a lot of people have personal expierence on here, I am sure these people to seek the opinions of Doctors also

Answer 2

Easy accessibility would be first of the reasons. You need not to go to see a doctor to have an answer to your question.

Time saving and economical. You can ask your question while you are doing what you are supposed to be doing,in the home or work or anywhere you are as long as there is a computer with you. It would take a minute or so to ask a question ang getting an answer with a relatively short time spent. Whereas if you go to ask a doctor, you may have to wait for reasonable time to have a talk with him. You cannot just walk on a clinic and ask any doctor you meet on the way. That's not an easy thing to do. Plus getting on a doctor usually needs an appointment-and that would mean some fees incurred.Here it is for free - not absolutely free of course as you have to have some fees in your computer usage,isn't it?

Ease in asking freely. Asking through writing sometimes is easier than asking personally (verbal). Besides, here in yahoo answers, your can have a private identity, thus it would make a person to ask a question with ease. Some may hesitate to ask question for being ashamed but here, you will not be easily identified, so you can ask whatever you need to know without preservation. Plus you can get an answer that anyone can easily undersatnd. That is in contrary to conversing with a doctor that sometimes you do not fully understand what he is talking about yet there is a hesitation to clarify.

Well, asking here is not that bad. Though, not all answers in this community are reliable, there are quite numbers of answerer who gives useful, informative and reasonable answers. One can possibly get an answer here as good as what you can get from the doctor's desk.

Afterall, there are real medical professionals answering questions here. How do you know the certain person is professional? The way of answering a question can tell if the person is really on the field.

Nevertheless, anyone asking a question has a common sense to believe or not to the input given. Infact, the asker usually counterchecks in the internet the answers given. Besides, most questions here as I can see are questions that are actually not seeking for first hand answers. Either seeking for a supportive idea,secondary opinion, confirming opinions or getting a general view.

Not to forget that many questions asked here are for school homeworks/papers. A student will not go to a doctors office to answer his homeworks,right?

Most of all, some askers here are actually asking questions just for fun and would sometimes choose an irreleavant, riduculous or funny answer as the best answer.

Also worthwhile mentioning that some askers are here as a sort of spending a pastime -definitely, everyone got different reasons for asking.

Well......

Answer 3

It's not as stupid as it sounds, for these reasons:

- Doctors don't know everything [shock horror!]

- Ordinary people have experiences which can be helpful to others.

- Doctors don't have time to go into the ins and outs of a particular medical condition, all the possible solutions, and the many different impacts it will have on the patient's life.

- Some doctors are too arrogant to explain a patient's condition in words they can understand, or even to give a diagnosis.

- A patient may have good reasons for avoiding a particular doctor! - and have little choice about which Dr they can see.

Last, but certainly not least, many people cannot afford to pay for a consultation. Even Australia's Medicare system has gaps because not all doctors "bulk-bill" and there may not be such a doctor in your locality.

Answer 4

If you read some of the questions carefully you will find out the a lot of these parents have already called a doctor and are looking for someone to give their experiences with the same health issues. I also see a lot of parents that have appointments coming up, notice something different but they are not sure if it really is an issue. I have even come across a few where the baby had a fall but did not seem to be too bothered, but the parents just need to be reassured that all will be well. I am much more bothered by Yahoo mommies that judge other mothers for seeking advice.

Answer 5

In addition to all of the other correct answers, personally I cannot figure out what the seriousness of my condition is from my Dr. Also the meds prescribed are very dangerous from the documentation put out by the drug company that makes it so I can't take it, and when I asked to change he wouldn't. I just feel lots of people on these sites are knowledgeable, some actually work in some aspect of the medical field, and some have had the same problems that I or you have, and know much more than I....and I can weigh the answers and try to figure out the questions. I can't seem to figure out what I have, the importance of it, etc. from my doc. Educating yourself is always good. So thanks everyone. Jay

Answer 6

From my experience. Doctors end up telling me what I already know. So I research everything now before I even consider going to the doctor and paying an outragous bill. half the time the only reason I even go to the doctor is to get a prescription.

Answer 7

Have you ever got a straight answer in English from a Doctor?
Most people think if it's has happened to me or if I have it someone else but have been the same.
Sometimes and a "normal" person will get you a faster better answer than trying to get in to see a Doctor to hear him say let's run test!

Answer 8

well, first of all, price. then, possibly, embarrassment.. some things people would much rather first ask people they don't have to see in person.. and also, advice you get from normal people usually won't be inclined toward getting a prescription and taking artificial medicines.

Answer 9

Thy don't want to spend money on a doctors.

Answer 10

The ones that are honest might be scared or embarrassed. And maybe no insurance.