THIS IS A "MUST READ" ARTICLE

Link To Article

What I've Learned from E-Patients

Dan Hoch*, Tom Ferguson

Dan Hoch is an assistant professor of Neurology at Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America. Tom Ferguson is a senior research fellow at the Pew Internet and American Life Project, Austin, Texas, United States of America.

Competing Interests: DH is a secretary for and TF is a director of the nonprofit organization BrainTalk Communities.

Published: August 9, 2005

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.0020206

As a neurologist subspecializing in epilepsy at a respected academic institution, I (DH) assumed that I knew everything I needed to know about epilepsy and patients with epilepsy. I was wrong.

In September of 1994, John Lester, my colleague in the Department of Neurology at Massachusetts General Hospital, showed me an online bulletin board for neurology patients that he had created [1]. In reading through the online messages, I observed hundreds of patients with neurological diseases sharing their experiences and discussing their problems with one another.

I knew that many patients with chronic diseases had been making use of online medical information [2]. Nonetheless, I was shocked, fascinated, and more than a bit confused by what I saw. I'd been trained in the old medical school style: my instructors had insisted that patients could not be trusted to understand or manage complex medical matters. Thinking back through my years of training and practice, I realized that there had always been an unspoken prohibition against groups of patients getting together. I had the uncomfortable sense that by promoting interactions between patients and de-emphasizing the central role of the physician, I might be violating some deep taboo.............

This is such a pertinent article. Pity more doctors have not had this epiphany.

:im_033: I have a Dr. that is not concerned with dominating his patients. My VNS was put in for TRD and has done a fantasic job in almost eight months. The internet is a valuable tool. No disrepect intended, but the days of "worshipping" your doctor are over. We deeply appreciate the one that care, show their concern, and sincerely want to help. But by the same token, most people turn to the internet to be fully educated. It is a valuable, just as Dr.'s are; it's just that their patient's views have opened a lot. The whole world is open to us!!! My Dr. said he is about redy to give up his seat and give it to me. I don't think I'm quite ready yet. But, I do keep him on his toes and keep his job interesting.

:) The internet will never replace you, DR.'s, but he helps us br more educated to what is going on in our own bodies and sometimes what the most appropriate treatment would be.

Tamara Knight ( labrat ) :Great!: