Consult a general physician when sick, not the internet

Stating that ‘Dr Google’ is no match for physicians, Dr Annette Steele, a General Practitioner in the UK, said, “The clinical judgment of general physicians is unmatched. A super specialist knows everything about something, while a general physician knows something about everything.”

Following what Google has to say is scary as the ‘diagnosis’ is always dramatic, she said. “Google’s diagnosis of a headache may be a brain tumour which will direct a patient to a neurologist who may refer him for an MRI scan. Following with this could prove expensive, only to find out there is nothing wrong,” she said.

Today, the number of super speciality courses are on the rise, especially Tamil Nadu. “Speciality doctors tend to only focus on problems pertaining to their specialisation, failing to look beyond. However, a general physician covers all specialties and can treat everything from infections to heart problems. They are the first ones you can call for anything to do with your health. They look after any illness that you may have. If the doctor is someone you have been visiting for years together, he will have records of your medical history and thereby be able to understand your problems better,” said Dr V Kumar, a general physician. “It is not merely the youngsters who use the internet nowadays. Elderly people too turn to ‘Dr Google’ in order to avoid wasting time on visiting a general doctor,” he added.