Avoiding quacks and misinformation:
One physician said, "My biggest concern about dispensing
medical information by the internet is the potential for patients to get
that information and not be able to interpret it." "There is a
corresponding boom in misleading and false medical information fueled by
the free-spirited, often anarchic internet. The credible information depots
on this unregulated information network are eclipsed by a spectrum of spurious
sources, from snake-oil salesmen to well-meaning individuals who are just
plain wrong."
1. First ask: Who is providing this information, and consider the source? Government agency, academic institution, watchdog organization, professional medical association, research foundation, major national disease specific organizations (caution to sound-alikes "American College for Advancement in Medicine" is a chelation front), an individual (who may be trying to drum up business, or may be purely altruistic), managed care organization, hospital system, pharmaceutical or medical device manufacturer, or consulting firm?
2. Weigh the information received against what you think may be the provider's intent. Be wary of info from newsgroups, as the internet does not check credentials.
3. Know where you are. One button can send you across the world. Know domain names and caution to copy-cat sites.
3. Watch for red flags: impossibly long lists of diseases, "new paradigms," too frequent complaints about conventional medicine.
4. Don't rely on info from only one source. News travels quickly and it's unlikely that startling information will be at only one site, get second opinions.
5. Get another opinion.
* USE YOUR BEST SKEPTICAL JUDGMENT! *
The internet cannot substitute for care by your own medical care provider.