The World in 2030

The World in 2030 293
Even today the internet has given the inquiring patient
instant access to a large body of medical information
previously available only to doctors. While making the
important caveat that information on the internet is not to
be trusted automatically, and with the important observation
that the interpretation of medical information may be
impossible without medical training, it is now clear that
the internet is empowering non-medics to the point that
many doctors are intimidated by patients who arrive in their
surgeries with internet print-outs under their arm.
With common sense and caution it is now possible for a
patient to review the world’s literature about specific drugs
or treatments, it is possible to instantly link up with others
who suffer, for example, from breast cancer, sarcoidosis
or tennis elbow. Specific treatments (and specific doctors
and specific hospitals) can be discussed and compared with
thousands of fellow patients both locally and all around the
world. It is no longer possible for a doctor to assume that
he or she has exclusive access to medical knowledge and to
the experiences of others suffering a common ailment. The
inquiring patient has suddenly and comprehensively been
empowered (and has been given important new sources of
support).
My own general practitioner is particularly internet-savvy
and he is unashamed to Google for medical information
while I am sitting in his office, even going so far as to guide
me to websites which offer the most trustworthy medical
information. He and I have formed a partnership; I do my
best to remain healthy, he does his best to support me.
Medicine is changing rapidly and, despite prevailing medical