21st Century Hypochondriac
Sunday, September 27, 2009 by M. Maca
The internet has become a kind of alternative to one's real life, so much so that meeting people online, finding romance and keeping in contact with offline friends, reducing by comparison the time one spends outside of cyberspace. It is no wonder then that even something as important as healthcare has been transferred to the internet, albeit in a rather flawed fashion.
In the modern age, many databases exist that offer their users the ability to check any number of conditions with symptoms they are (or believe they are) experiencing. While not far removed from the ways in which hypochondriacs of the past found out about any medical or mental health issue they believed they had, the convenience of having an entire database of possible afflictions at your fingertips increases the chances of paranoid and imagined illness.
While use of such data retrieved from a database (such as diagnose-me.com) may be useful in helping a user identify any possible problems they may have by providing the clarity of mind to seek an official diagnosis, the problems inherent can outweigh any possible benefits.
Although an online diagnosis may be fairly accurate, the chances of receiving one that is false is a very real possibility. Users receiving a false prognosis could believe there is nothing to worry about when something much more sinister is at work. They could decide that seeking medical attention is not necessary, with a worsening condition presenting an invisible threat.
While I have presented a somewhat skeptical view of healthcare online, it can still be considered a useful tool for trying to determine any health problems one may be experiencing. And while some may be certified by real world doctors, there truly is nothing that can compare to the truth of an expert opinion.