In recent times, many people have been using the internet to access health advices instead of consulting with doctors. While there are several factors which are contributing to this issue such as convenience and flexibility, I think that it is a negative development for public health. This essay will explain the causes of the issue and discuss why this is a negative trend.
One major cause is its convenience for every user. Everyone has easy access to the internet and modern technology therefore they find it more convenient to use the internet for their queries. Similarly, lack of healthcare facilities has been forcing more individuals to use the internet rather than going to the the hospitals. For example, in the UK people have to wait more than a month to get an appointment to see doctors. As a result, more people use the internet as a healthcare advisor.
There are numerous reasons people are finding it more flexible to use. However, this is a negative development. This is because the internet only provides advices according to the service users descriptions. Consequently, it can not examine people’s internal health problem and it might suggest wrong sollution for their health problems. For instance, doctors usually do several tests before start medication for their patients, but the internet can not provide a holistic care for them.
In conclusion, it is increasingly likely that people use the internet to save their time and for flexibility. Nevertheless, it can not treat people as doctors do after several physical lab tests.