Ask the doctor


Getting Health Answers On-line

Yahoo Answers is a place where anyonebecause I'm being realistic and probably
can post a question to be answered byrecommend they spend money on a proper
anyone else. Yet, despite the fact thatprogram. The asker would rather hear
total strangers with absolutely nothat they can get good results without
expertise are answering business, legal,using a marketing firm which would cost
and health problems, the number ofthem. So they get answers that are
questions continues to grow. Perhapsfaulty and obviously given by people
because this is a free site, this is thetotally ignorant of common advertising
case, but it's rather troubling at best.practices.
You can see business people asking howThey same is true for health questions
to market their products and the answersand this is a far more serious area. My
they receive could be from a ten yearwife is an RN with her Masters degree
old. As a further example, there areand sees the various medical questions
those who need solutions to real estateand answers on YA. This can have
contracts and divorce information.devastating effects. No one should be
Again, they get answers that may or mayasking health advice from complete
not be accurate because anyone has astrangers. I understand the desire to
chance to provide them information orsave money and those not wanting to
miss-information. One hopes that thesecontact a doctor. People fear doctors
people don't take the Yahoo Answers asfor a variety of reasons but, if they
the final word.have a condition that requires
For example, I'm an advertising andtreatment, there are few options. If
marketing "expert" with 35 yearsthey must go online seeking information
experience. I have a degree inor a response to a health question, why
advertising, a Masters in teaching,not ask a professional that is trained
owned my own advertising agency, and wasin the field? Sure, there may be a cost
a consultant for 25 years. Therefore, Iinvolved, but look at the alternative.
consider myself fairly knowledgeable inOn YA you get general, unqualified
most areas of PR, marketing, andanswers that are mostly worthless
promotion. I sometimes wander over to YAanyway. But asking a doctor or nurse
to see who's asking what. The responsesonline, you have a much better chance at
are often times in accurate andsolid advice that might actually help
misleading. I try to offer help but amyour ailment or condition.
rarely chosen as the best answer. That's



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