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If you are like the millions of other Americans with symptoms of any kind, chances are you have turned to Dr. Google. And the odds are good that after you type in your search terms the first website that pops up will be WebMD. So, you decide to click the link because as the name suggests, a doctor is providing medical advice via the web. Maybe.
WebMD has what it calls a “symptom checker,” which essentially allows you to plug your age and gender, point to a specific body part and pick your symptom. After that, it's the Wild West.
There are other sites that have symptom checking capabilities, such as the Mayo Clinic, which is superior in my opinion because their advice is superior, and the website is not cluttered with a slew of distracting ads. But I chose WebMD as a test since it popped up first.
I entered nasal congestion. One of the differential diagnoses, or a list of what the most likely diagnosis could be, was — ricin poisoning (1). And, it wasn't even April Fool's Day.
Having something like ricin poisoning on the list of potential diagnoses sounds like something from The Onion, but there it was. Crazy.
Have you ever heard of cyberchondria? It’s when hypochondriacs start internet searching health matters. When hypochondriacs get their hands on the internet bad things happen. These folks may or may not focus at the top of the differential list: sinus headache, but they are probably going to see ricin poisoning, and if they are neurotic enough, perhaps run to the closest emergency room.
These people cost the healthcare industry billions of dollars according to an article WebMD published itself! Unnecessary tests and procedures are a waste of time, money and valuable resources, and silliness like this will clog already-crowded emergency rooms.
The internet is not the only place where WebMD has a wide reach. In many doctors’ offices there are complimentary copies of WebMD magazine. One cardiologist, Dr. Anthony Pearson wrote a scathing review of this magazine:
"Thus, WebMD, the magazine, is a useless and potentially harmful combination of:
- DTC ads promoting expensive, marginally beneficial medications
- Snake oil products with no benefit and potential risk
- Celebrity fluff pieces with no useful medical information
- Brief, often inaccurate blurbs on diet, exercise, weight loss.
This magazine, although free, should not be in doctor’s waiting rooms"
His concern was that patients often tend to believe material found in the waiting room of a doctor’s office is sanctioned by the doctor. What Pearson found in addition to the above were imagined disorders, such as “Shift Work Disorder.” (2)
The magazine advertises expensive medications that have no generic alternatives, and it is a sure bet that patients will ask their healthcare provider about said expensive medications. So you can see how pernicious these purveyors of “medical advice” seem to be.
And there are also fluff articles having nothing to do with medically-related topics. You will find articles on expensive skin lotions and creams, which makes me wonder what business WebMD has offering beauty advice. If I want advice about the best face cream to tighten my pores (IN reality I have perfect pores), I will consult my favorite fashion magazine, not WebMD. Why are they pushing products on people that they have no business pedaling? If this is what the magazine wants to focus on they should change the name to Cosmo.
WebMD is not all bad. There are some informative articles, but it is not a site I would recommend to solicit health information. Not even close. It is a site for getting bombarded with manipulative ads. And, then there’s a link at the bottom of the page telling me that if I find it difficult to concentrate, it must be because I have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and, naturally, I should ask my provider about the controlled Schedule II medication to help me treat it. I’m fairly certain if they toned down the volume of ads on their site, I might not have such a hard time directing my attention.
Notes:
(1) Ricin, which comes from the roots of the castor oil plant is one of the most potent toxins on earth. It has been used as a bioweapon.
(2) Circadian rhythm disorders is listed in the DSM V. The remedy is a stimulant medication such as modafanil.
