The Digital Dental Surgeon

I read an entry from Malaysian Medical Resources website about a retired teacher who challenged a diagnosis made by a young government doctor through his findings from Google.

The internet is a good source for information but information is only good if there are people who know how to properly use it. A little information is dangerous, and a wade through Google and the internet do not make one a qualified doctor.

Google is a powerful tool but please don’t think it can replace medical school. - Palmdoc, in MMR

A doctor, however young he may be, is trained and taught about his/her craft and practices with the best ability he/she may have. An unnecessary paranoia is that young doctors are inept in treating patients, I find that as ignorant stupidity and prejudiced. A qualified doctor would be skilled and be able to treat patients regardless of his youth, and the exposure will greatly enhance his/her ability. Depriving this young doctor of exposure would bring more harm than good.

As highlighted by the LKS’ blog and MMR, the original author of the letter to NST and LKS himself played doctor to diagnose the 80 year old aunt through researches done in the internet.

A general practitioner, may it be a doctor or a dentist/dental surgeon, would suggest differential diagnoses before referring to a specialist or senior counterpart. Parkinson’s Disease may just be one of the differential diagnoses or working diagnoses, not a definitive one as yet. So in this instance, further checkups and examination is needed in the patient’s physical nature by a trained physician and not by Google.

In regard to my online consultation, I would only be able to guide, or give advice on dental and related problems which may afflict readers. I may give suggestions which should not be taken as a definitive diagnosis, as the diagnosis should and could only be made by a dentist/dental surgeon who have examined physically and and in person. Therefore, a thorough examination in person should be done before coming up with a definitive diagnosis.

Lets us not be quick to jump on uninformed assumptions. There also should be no prejudice towards private or government based healthcare as both sectors are doing their best.

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