Searching for medical information online is not a new concept, but paying for online advice from a certified physician is a new option for Internet surfers. While Doctors cannot diagnose patients over the Internet, these fee-based services offer more interaction and personalized service than simply searching the Internet for answers to health questions.
Some web sites that are offering answers to email questions include:
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Web site
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Cost
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Service(s) offered
|
|---|
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AskaDoctor.com
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$16.95
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Emails answers from three doctors, but does not identify them.
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NetLiveMD.com
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$25 24
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hours response time to question
|
|
MedHelp.org
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$14.95
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Receive three medical opinions
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|
MayoClinic.com
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Free
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Only publish small percentage of questions
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Because of liability concerns these sites are not designed to replace a visit to the doctor. They may, however, offer patients access to information they would not otherwise have.
The credibility of the doctors who answer the questions is an important issue to consider when using these Internet services. The better sites offer biographical information so that users can research the doctors’ credentials on their own.
For those willing to pay a fee some medical web sites now offer the opportunity to ask questions that may help supplement the health information currently available on the Internet.
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