In this world of new technology and instant information at our fingertips, things are changing. Have you ever heard of Googling your own health problems?  Some have actually turned to Google (or any search engine) to help them find out what’s wrong with them!  Besides the lab work and other tests and scans, a doctor tends to spend quite a bit of time with the patient asking questions.  They are trying to asymilate as much information about your problem so they can figure out what ails you.

What if you had a tool at home that you could use to help with that part of the equation? Well, in a way, you do.  They call it “Google.”  What people are doing is Googling their symptoms to get a better idea of what may be the problem before actually going to a doctor.  Well, this news article I heard about this weekend really took the cake!  A man and his pregnant wife did not have enough time to wait for an ambulance so he went ahead and Googled how to deliver a baby, watch a few videos, and delivered his own kid (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/8030084.stm)!

Scott Adams, creator of Dilbert, blogged about Google and its help in diagnosing a health issue for him (the link to the actual post doesn’t work, but visit dilbert.com/blog and search for “something called Spasmodic Dysphonia“, including the quotes, in the search field in the side bar, you’ll find an article called “Google Is My Doctor”).  Check it out.  I think you’ll find it at least interesting or amusing.

Obviously, there may be a few problems with such a solution. It puts what may very well be a serious problem in the hands of someone not very equipt to deal with it.  If you misdiagnose something very serious, well, you can see the problem here.  Also, there can be a level of hypocondria that can be fed into here.  It wouldn’t take much for some people to spend a very large amount of time Googling every little thing that may come fleetingly.

So, I guess I can see positives and negatives. The Internet definitely has brought information that at one time was almost unattainable to the masses and has brought it into the every day household.  We have to be thankful for that.  We must also be aware of the dangers of wielding something so powerful.

What are your thoughts?  Have you ever found yourself Googling health issues?  Do you think it is a good idea?  Or should it be left to the doctors with the degrees?