“The Web-Savvy Patient” was written by Mary Adam Thomas and Andrew Schorr. Schorr believes that the internet saved his life. When he was 45, he was told by doctors that he had chronic lymphocytic leukemia, an incurable disease. As a result, he would need to start immediate chemotherapy, if he wanted to beat the odds. However, Schorr was not 100 percent positive that these results could be true. He decided to get on the internet and browse a community of patients living with this disease. Schorr came upon Dr. Michael J. Keating and was told that he would live for along time. Dr. Keating also said that treatment was unnecessary until his condition worsened. Schorr’s condition began to progress four years later, and started chemotherapy treatment. He believes that without consulting the internet, rather than just believing his doctor’s at the beginning, he would of never been able to have Dr. Keating’s advice nor have his third child.
“Many doctors warn patients that they have to be careful of health information on the web,” says Schorr in “The Web-Savvy Patient.” However, this is untrue. Globally speaking, millions of people are diagnosed with chronic, incurable illness everyday. Many of them are given the advice to go ahead with treatment or there is no hope. This article teaches us the importance of being our own doctors. Whether that means researching in a library or at home at the computer. Many people around the world do not have access to the internet, however should not readily accept treatment doctors say are the only way. It is important to teach people around the world to always get a second opinion if they can. Advocating for our lives on our own is increasingly important during this “big-pharm” world we live in. Depending on drug treatment is not the way in all circumstances, like Mr. Schorr. Without him researching on his own gave him the tools to change the destiny that was labeled for him. Personally, in my family my mom was diagnosed with atypical Parkinson’s Disease (PD) four years ago. Yes, she has to be on drug therapy to regulate her levels of neurotransmitters in her brain, however she researches her condition daily. My mom and dad are always rebuking what her doctors say and getting second opinions if they feel it is necessary for her overall health. Yes, many of her drugs are helping stop the tremors, however they are hurting her liver. It is a difficult disease to treat. In 20 years I may start showing signs of PD and need to make a decision what treatment I want to go for. Since her condition is atypical, there is really no way a doctor will know what to do for her. Also, MRI scans cannot tell the whole truth about a neurological disease, deeply embedded within the brain.
Overall, this article spoke to me very much. It is getting the message out to people everywhere to be your own doctor and take your health into your own hands. It is critically important not to believe everything a doctor says. It is your body, your health, the doctors do not have the symptoms, you do.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/04/health/04brody.html?ref=health
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