Question

What can happen to the technologist if he or she misuses heath information?

Answer 1

Ans) Physicians will be increasingly faced with patients who have retrieved online health information. As the largest group of Internet users continues to age and develops a greater need for health services, diagnostics, and treatments, physicians must be prepared for the Internet to play a key role in health care delivery. Whether or not physicians believe medical professionals should remain the sole protectors and regulators of health information, it is important that they are mindful of how the Internet is being used among their patients. Patients are no longer influenced only by their physicians’ health advice and recommendations. Online health information offers alternative options, insights, and a broader knowledge base for patients. Health care workers are entering a new world of medicine wherein they must be responsible for information deliberation and dialogue with their patients.

- Furthermore, there is also an onus on physicians, other health care workers, and researchers to ensure that legitimate and trustworthy online health care resources exist for patient use. This information should be available in a user-friendly, comprehensible, and accessible format. This can be achieved through the development of valid evidence-based Web resources that are presented in “patient-friendly” formats. However, simply developing websites is not enough; it will be necessary to inform physicians about current, up-to-date, and valid health resources that they can suggest to their patients.

- There is currently an opportunity to turn an online minefield of health facts, figures, and stories into a gold mine of information, which could potentially have a considerable effect on the improvement of patient health. Going beyond the traditional paternalistic doctor-patient relationship model, effective use of online health information has the potential to enhance the patient-physician health partnership. This will require open discussion between doctors and patients about online health information and information-access practices, as well as the development of appropriate online resources for patients that are designed by qualified professionals.