3 ms·

>It is not possible for a non-physician to be an informed healthcare consumer. Are you sure, because I used webMD to diagnose my spontaneous pneumothorax. Wen

>It is not possible for a non-physician to be an informed healthcare consumer. Are you sure, because I used webMD to diagnose my spontaneous pneumothorax. Went to the clinic told them as much, they laughed. Finally ended up doing a chest x-ray after which a very stern faced doc walked up to me and said, "Sorry, we've never seen this here before. You need to go to the hospital right now." That was the longer part of the story about the ct scan which was done post-recovery to look for blebs.

ogreyonder 13y ago
Same thing here. Personal story short, I discovered--thanks to the internet--that having hypothyroidosis and taking L-Carnitine [1] can cause rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney damage. 3 doctors completely missed huge warning signs and prescribed strong antibiotics in spite of the fact that there was no evidence of infection. It was only thanks to my being an informed healthcare consumer that I prevented a very bad weekend. I think it's possible for non-physicians to make informed decisions. I would also say that many want to have someone to blame. In my case, though, blaming someone doesn't help much when your kidneys die. I'd argue that a $100 DNA test is not a diagnosis tool. It's like a friend looking at your skin and saying 'hey, you should get that mole checked out'. [1] In the form of Pantothen, the "Natural Acne Cure". Yeah.
- aaronem 13y ago
  >I'd argue that a $100 DNA test is not a diagnosis tool. I'd argue the same. But that's not in the slightest how 23andme presents itself.
jasonlotito 13y ago
Your story only reinforces his point. You still went to the hospital. You still had test and what not done. Sure , you were informed about a specific part, but after that, you went to professionals you trusted.
oijaf888 13y ago
Marfans Syndrome?

3 ms·

>It is not possible for a non-physician to be an informed healthcare consumer. Are you sure, because I used webMD to diagnose my spontaneous pneumothorax. Wen

by IanDrake 13y ago

ogreyonder 13y ago
Same thing here. Personal story short, I discovered--thanks to the internet--that having hypothyroidosis and taking L-Carnitine [1] can cause rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney damage. 3 doctors completely missed huge warning signs and prescribed strong antibiotics in spite of the fact that there was no evidence of infection. It was only thanks to my being an informed healthcare consumer that I prevented a very bad weekend. I think it's possible for non-physicians to make informed decisions. I would also say that many want to have someone to blame. In my case, though, blaming someone doesn't help much when your kidneys die. I'd argue that a $100 DNA test is not a diagnosis tool. It's like a friend looking at your skin and saying 'hey, you should get that mole checked out'. [1] In the form of Pantothen, the "Natural Acne Cure". Yeah.
- aaronem 13y ago
  >I'd argue that a $100 DNA test is not a diagnosis tool. I'd argue the same. But that's not in the slightest how 23andme presents itself.
jasonlotito 13y ago
Your story only reinforces his point. You still went to the hospital. You still had test and what not done. Sure , you were informed about a specific part, but after that, you went to professionals you trusted.
oijaf888 13y ago
Marfans Syndrome?