How, if at all, has the relationship between Doctor and patient been affected by the rise in the use of the internet in relationship to people’s health in everyday life?
The rise of the concept of Health or Medicine 2.0, has empowered people to be more involved in their own healthcare. Doctors fees are increasingly expensive and time is always of the essence within a consultation. Many people are reading up on their symptoms and are looking to their general practitioner for verification and medication more than diagnosis. This enables the system to cater to as many people as possible within a short time frame. It allows the consumer to seek second opinions and ask uncomfortable questions from the privacy of one's home. One major problem with self-diagnosis is potential misdiagnosis, which can lead to unnecessary stress on the patient or even inappropriate self-medicating. In its' current state the Internet does not replace a doctor, however, there is definitely scope for more healthcare to take place online. “The Internet has been a tool for users and citizens to get more involved and empowered” (Eysenbach 2008) in their health care. The relationship between doctor and patient/consumer has changed over time from a one-way relationship to more of a consultatory model. The availability of information online enables a patient to question their doctor, discuss possible alternative treatments and make informed choices. Support groups provide emotional and factual support online, point patients in the direction of alternative treatments and enable a person to be in control of their health, identifying them as an expert in the experience of their own health (Eysenbach 2008).
Eysenbach, Gunther. (2008, August 25). Medicine 2.0: Social Networking, Collaboration, Participation, Apomediation, and Openness. Journal of Medical Internet Research. 10(3). Retrieved from http://www.jmir.org/2008/3/e22/.
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