Who needs doctors when we have the media?

Let's face it; nobody really enjoys going to the doctor. Whether it be waiting in a room full of other sick people and out dated magazines; having your body tested with freezing cold metal objects and needles or forking out the cash at the end of a session - it is rarely an enjoyable experience.

New media, particularly the internet allows people to become their own doctors. A simple Google search including symptom can lead to a diagnosis and recommendation of treatment.

As Cherise mentions in her blog 'Discovering New Media', this can be quite a dangerous thing. Doctors study and train to correctly diagnose patients. How can a quick Google search possible allow us to do the same? How do we know if it is reliable? It is then that online users need to be cautious when retreiving information from certain websites.

Does the internet give us the same knowledge of medicine our doctors have?

Not sure who to trust? Just ask Oprah!!! No, she hasn’t recently graduated from medical school. She has however given the ‘thumbs up’ to health website RealAge.com which enables users to calculate the biological age of their bodies and create a health based strategy to improve their well-being.(Lewis 2011).
Television is another growing media platform which enables audiences to visit a doctor without leaving the couch. Reality progams such as the Biggest Loser, educate and imform veiwers about nutrition and the risks of obesity.

Dr. Oz is an American doctor who has his own daytime TV slot and live audience. He has become a celebrity by providing medical advice over the small screen.
Yes; these websites and television shows may be informative but are they helping diagnose and cure your specific health problems as your GP would? I think not...

Reference List

Joelle, C 2011. "Discovering New Media: Whose the expert now?" Retreived from http://cherisediscoveringnewmedia.blogspot.com/2011/04/whose-expert-now.html 11 April 2011

Lewis, T. 2006. Seeking health information on the internet: lifestyle choice or bad attack of cyberchondria? Media, Culture & Society, volume 28, issue 4: 521-539.