Why do people ask for medical advice on the internet?

What's the appeal of asking someone who's bored at work to diagnose the weird rash you have instead of speaking to a medically trained professional? And WHY in the name of Pete Postlethwaite would anyone even THINK about trying to do the same for one of their children without ripping up their parenting license there and then?





That is allWhy do people ask for medical advice on the internet?
Sometimes it's because the questioner is as bored or lonely as the answerer.





Sometimes it could be to have information to back up what their gp has diagnosed.





It could also simply be communication with others who have, or had, a similar experience, a sort of club where they can anonymously share experiences and fears without feeling foolish, especially if there's no sympathy or understanding from close family or friends.





A little compassion goes a long way and hopefully the questioner, and anyone else who reads the answers, has the sense to ignore some of the scathing or potentially dangerous replies.





I'm sure most will seek professional medical advice from their gp if needed.Why do people ask for medical advice on the internet?
they are ask ing for opinions from people who may have experienced something similar or heard of it. i dont think anyone would use the advice instead of a GP and some of the answers are silly anyway. some of the people answering are professionals, there are doctors and nurses and others, for example i am a pharmacy assistant and have a lot of experience due to having a child with chronic illness for 12 yrs and other things that i have experienced or heard of. my advice is always to check with a doctor but sometimes its good to get other opinions and some people who have just had babies or not had expereince of doctors/hospitals themselves sometimes lack even basic ideas on what to do for example if their child has a temperature. in the old days u would have got advice from yr elders and family members so i guess answers is the modern equivalent.
In the Full Disclaimer at the bottom of the page below all the flags there is a Health Disclaimer that warns people that health advice in this site should be regarded as information only and should never be regarded as a substitute for professional advice from a doctor.





If you click on the blue Full Disclaimer you can see the Health Disclaimer.
People have always sought medical advice from sources other than doctors. Friends family and even newspaper doc columns, the internet is just an extension of this.
its easy and its less embarrassing than asking some-one you know.
its because its a quick and easy way to get an answer, even though yes sometimes the answers people receive are wrong its just what everyone is used to now a days.lol :)
its what yahoo answers is for ya troll ya