Who is better: the doctor or the internet search engine?
Let's discuss a key moment in modern healthcare. Namely, who is better – the doctor or the internet search engine?
More and more people are turning to the internet in the hope that search results will reveal their health problems. There they also seek a solution for their treatment. With the universal availability of smartphones, the number of people searching for information online is growing rapidly. The same applies to the amount of information available online. Medical queries are a common reason for accessing the internet. Surveys by some of the leading technology companies report that the majority of their employees routinely use the internet to self-diagnose.
However, every internet search carries a serious threat. A cough can turn into pneumonia, a finger pain into amputation, a headache into an incurable brain tumor. If you search the internet for symptoms of an illness, it is extremely likely that you will encounter results indicating a serious disease. The internet is full of a vast amount of information, much of which may be inaccurate or misleading. Without proper medical training, it is easy to misinterpret symptoms and self-diagnose serious conditions that may not actually be present.
Is the internet a reliable way to diagnose things?
The internet works so that the user is directed to those websites that best match the 200 ranking parameters of the search engine. This is determined more by the skills of the SEO specialist and the web page developer than by the quality and reliability of the information on that page.
Health information can be uploaded by private individuals, news portals, scientific societies, or often by businesses hoping to attract customers. As a result, a large portion of the available information is not of good quality. Undoubtedly, there will be commercially biased information, enticing readers to purchase a product advertised by the business, such as a diet pill. In other words, despite being a marvel of science, an internet search does not always yield the most accurate information.
Why is internet self-diagnosis a bad idea?
Although the internet can provide the definitions of technical terms, understanding medical literature in its true sense is not possible for a non-specialist without a background in structured healthcare education.
The best way to explain this is by analogy with learning a new language before visiting a foreign country. With the help of a phrasebook, it's possible to understand the meaning of most commonly used words so that basic ideas can be expressed without difficulty. However, knowing the words is not the same as knowing the language. Try reading a novel or other literary work with this basic knowledge – it turns out to be extremely difficult. In this way, unless we actually know the language, we will find it impossible to understand (and express) complex ideas, metaphors, euphemisms, stylized phrases, and slang.
Similarly, medicine is a language, and understanding medical literature involves more than just knowing the technical terms. A deep understanding of all these subtle nuances can only come from structured learning and experience. Without such a background, a collection of simple words (technical terms) will be largely meaningless—it will only create anxiety and confusion.
The doctor or the search engine – wmisjudgment
An anxious mind lacks judgment. It can skip several steps in logical thinking, leading to pessimistic and unrealistic conclusions. For example, someone who is already anxious about their headache frantically searches the internet for causes. Their condition may compel them to focus on the most severe cause of a headache. Let's say it's a brain tumor. And even though the page correctly shows that it's more likely to be a migraine, the negative outcome is evident. In fact, for the same reason, many doctors avoid self-diagnosing. They prefer to consult another doctor, as they know how anxiety can cloud their own judgment.
For the patient, the purpose of a doctor's visit is to reduce anxiety by gaining clarity. A good doctor can reduce anxiety simply by patiently listening to the patient's words, allowing the patient to relax. Once the diagnosis is explained, the uncertainty factor is removed; the patient's mind is cleared.
The internet, being a machine without emotions or empathy, cannot achieve this.
Other disadvantages of using the internet for self-diagnosis and treatment
1. The user is overwhelmed with a long list of options from a search engine, unlike a doctor's advice which simplifies the situation. Self-diagnosis based on internet searches can lead to delays in seeking appropriate medical help. This can result in the condition worsening or complications that could have been avoided with early intervention.
2. Searching for symptoms online often leads to the worst-case scenarios. This can cause unnecessary worry and stress. A person might believe they have a serious illness when they may only have a minor, easily treatable problem.
- You can easily fall victim to a merchant hosting an attractive webpage that tempts patients to buy unauthorized treatments. Such pages, though featuring low-quality content, can be manipulated to achieve a high ranking in a search engine's webpage ranking algorithm.
- Confirmation Bias: Search results can always be found to support any theory a patient might prefer.
- Every keyword we enter into the search bar is monitored by the search engine in an attempt to send us ads based on our profile. For example, someone looking for information about being overweight might soon receive ads for weight-loss medications, many of which are banned and harmful.
- Medical ethics on the internet are not well-defined. Anyone can publish information and advertise miracle cures without valid scientific publications to support these claims. In contrast, the majority of doctors adhere to the established code of medical ethics.
- Using the internet to interpret laboratory test results without a doctor's clinical reasoning can lead to undue anxiety about a serious illness.
The doctor, the internet search engine, or theWhy do patients turn to the internet for self-treatment and diagnosis?
The internet is free. For the most part, it can be accessed from the privacy and comfort of home and is available 24/7. There's no need to make an appointment or take time off work. Many people blindly trust any printed information and can literally believe all online information. Furthermore, the internet provides anonymity and, last but not least, doesn't mock the patient for asking an unusual question.
How does a doctor make a diagnosis?
In addition to a deep understanding of how the human body works, a doctor also knows about various diseases and their diverse symptoms. Furthermore, a doctor has experience: from their own past patients and from the collective experience of other doctors, acquired during training and participation in scientific seminars and conferences.
The most important distinction here is the analytical thinking capacity of a trained human mind, which still cannot be replicated by any computer model. Although a website can generate an algorithm or lists of probabilities in a symptom-checking format, it cannot match the intuitive thinking (heuristic analysis) and deductive reasoning ability of a doctor's mind.
Experienced doctors can rule out most alternative diagnoses by simply taking a detailed history – many times even without performing tests. There is no infallibility here – the doctor does not always have to get it right for various reasons. The information provided may be incomplete, there may be limitations in performing tests, and the typical manifestation of the disease may be absent. Let's not forget the biological variability of the human body – no two of us are alike, nor is our biology.
Good doctors try to minimize this error by observing the patient and being willing to follow up if symptoms persist.
The patient needs the doctor not only for diagnosis and prescribing medication. Making a medical decision is much more than writing a prescription. In addition to scientific thinking, it includes a combination of empathy, ethics, morals, culture, spirituality, confidence, and effective communication.
For example, when faced with a dilemma involving a serious family illness, an experienced doctor will be able to make a practical decision appropriate to the situation after analyzing countless variables. Even the decision not to administer any treatment is an example of such a decision.
None of these things are yet possible for a machine.
The internet can provide you with a lot of information, but it lacks the ability to think. Even after the creation of so-called AI (artificial intelligence), which made computers smarter, the thinking capacity of the human mind cannot be matched.
What if the doctor's treatment doesn't work?
Medicine is not an exact science. Not all doctors share the same treatment approach, and not all patients with the same condition can be treated with the same medications.
If there is no improvement after the initial treatment, it would be reasonable to return and inform the doctor of the apparent lack of response. This is a better option than searching the internet for any medications and diagnoses suggested by the doctor and becoming more confused.
Alternatively, a second opinion can be sought. Naturally, the doctor who offers the second opinion will have an advantage over the first doctor, as they will have the opportunity to understand what course of treatment was unsuccessful and what tests have already been conducted.
What can the patient use the internet for then?
In principle, it's not wrong and there's nothing bad about getting information online. Although it's not a good tool for self-diagnosis, the internet offers a wide range of services from the patient's perspective. Those suffering from certain chronic conditions such as colitis, asthma, or hypertension can find information and take control of their illness. This way, you will be able to ask the right questions to your doctor and know more about your disease. Globally, medicine has evolved from the patriarchal system of the past, where the doctor prescribed treatment, to a mutually supportive model where the doctor and patient work together to manage the illness.
Patients can learn more about upcoming procedures, such as cardiac catheterization, colonoscopy, or MRI scans.
You can find help among people who have faced the same diagnosis. However, these searches should be directed solely towards better awareness and mutual support. They should not be used for self-diagnosis, self-treatment, or comparing symptoms with those of another patient with the same diagnosis. Most internet users are not doctors. They do not know the various manifestations of the disease and its course. Even if they provide information about their own illness from their own experience, the described symptoms may relate to and be part of a completely different clinical picture.
It is extremely important to be able to evaluate the quality of pages where you look for medical information. To do this, you need to check: Is the information supported by sources and research? Who is the information coming from? Is the page updated regularly? What kind of specialist is the person managing the respective page?
In summary, while the internet can provide useful information, it should never replace professional medical advice. Always seek the guidance of a licensed and experienced healthcare professional for an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment.
Don't give in to the impulse to become a party to the „doctor or search engine“ dilemma. Turn to the medical coordinators at Medical Karaj Health Information Center for consultation. We will direct your case to the most appropriate specialists, and you will receive an adequate medical opinion on your treatment options abroad. Trust our knowledge and many years of experience!
