Google: Too much of a good thing for patients?

Posted by Sean Keating on November 13th, 2007. Filed under: patient relations, Google, privacy.

Can Google be too much of a good thing when it comes to the doctor/patient relationship?

Time magazine has a story by Dr. Scott Haig, assistant clinical professor of orthopedic surgery at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. Haig tells about one of his patinets who not only looked up information about her condition online, but also looked up as much personal information about the doctor as possible during their initial phone conversation.

Haig goes on to detail this patient’s first appointment:

Susan had chosen me because she had researched my education, read a paper I had written, determined my university affiliation and knew where I lived. It was a little too much - as if she knew how stinky and snorey I was last Sunday morning. Yes, she was simply researching important aspects of her own health care. Yes, who your surgeon is certainly affects what your surgeon does. But I was unnerved by how she brandished her information, too personal and just too rude on our first meeting.

What information do you think patients have the right too? How much is too much? Let us know what you think in the comments.

When the Patient Is a Googler [via Time]

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From Medical Economics magazine, more on patient relations ...

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One Response to “Google: Too much of a good thing for patients?”

skibjork, on December 5th, 2007 at 5:44 pm Said:

I think it is too much of a good thing. I wouldn’t want anyone, especially patients being able to find out where I live and what my favorite cereal is. However, I think it’s completely ethical and OK to have the ability to see a physician’s bio/resume, but nobody needs personal info. With so many tools on the web like Epocrates, ARUP Consult, WebMD, these blogs… people can have access to all types of information without having to compromise someones private life.