How to get medical advice while avoiding common online pitfalls

Empowering yourself with medical knowledge can be uplifting, reassuring and health-affirming – it’s a really positive thing for all of us to do.  

The problem, though, is that many of us face challenges knowing where and how to get medical advice that’s trustworthy and reliable. As we’ve seen with the recent Netflix series based on wellness influencer Belle Gibson, it can be tough to separate medical fact and fiction.  

With the help of Assoc. Prof. Tim Baker, director of Deakin University’s Centre for Rural Emergency Medicine, we explain how to get the right medical advice and how to identify misinformation.  

What is health misinformation?  

In the age of the internet, getting good medical advice is more challenging than ever. With so much health misinformation around, it can be hard to know what’s really going on when we need reliable answers.  

But what exactly is health misinformation? 

‘Health misinformation is anything that goes against what we currently understand from science,’ says Baker. ‘That doesn’t always mean it’s completely false – sometimes it’s just an idea that hasn’t been proven yet, and other times it’s something that’s already been tested and shown not to work.’ 

What is self-diagnosis?  

Ever experienced a troubling symptom and found yourself scrolling Dr Google? Maybe you used an app to investigate your ailment, or perhaps you recalled a time you were sick in the past and put your current symptoms down to the same illness. If this sounds familiar, then you’ve done a bit of self-diagnosing.  

So, what is self-diagnosis, exactly? 

‘Self-diagnosis is when you look at your symptoms, compare them to your own experiences, and maybe cross-check with information you’ve found elsewhere, then decide what the problem is,’ Baker says.  

It’s human instinct to search for answers when we’re worried about our own health.  

But is self-diagnosis a bad thing? Or can these experiences and tools be a reliable way to get medical advice? 

Is self-diagnosis bad?  

Self-diagnosis isn’t necessarily a bad thing.  

In fact, Baker says that trusting personal experience can actually give us really useful insights into our own health. ‘If you have a chronic or rare disease, and you’ve had these symptoms before, you probably know your condition better than most doctors do,’ Baker says.  

The problem is that our past experiences – or Dr Google – sometimes lead us down the wrong path.  

‘Self-diagnosis isn’t always reliable,’ Baker says. ‘If it’s a condition you don’t have much experience with, there’s a real chance you could be wrong. I’ve been working in emergency medicine for nearly 30 years, and I still get diagnoses wrong sometimes – so anyone can.’ 

If you’re in the habit of self-diagnosing, it’s important to learn where and how to get medical advice from professionals.  

‘You’re more likely to get the right diagnosis if you bring your own thoughts to the table but also get a few different perspectives on what’s going on,’ Baker says. 

Where to get medical advice online 

For more than a decade, wellness influencers and social media gurus have been sharing their advice all over the internet.  

In recent years, we’ve seen Belle Gibson (the subject of Netflix’s Apple Cider Vinegar) claiming to beat cancer with alternative therapies, Pete Evans selling debunked covid cures and Jessica Ainscough’s use of Gerson therapy. While these individuals (and their claims) have proven controversial, many people look to such influencers to get medical advice.  

Despite the high-profile controversies of those like Gibson, Evans and Ainscough, Baker says that following the advice of wellness gurus in general can actually be a good thing. ‘I really like when people look to wellness gurus because a lot of the advice is actually pretty good,’ he says. ‘Eating well, exercising, and taking control of your own health—those are all great things.’ 

Of course, there are definitely drawbacks, too – especially when the advice stops people getting professional medical care. ‘That’s the real problem. If someone was following Belle Gibson’s advice and using The Whole Pantry instead of getting oncology care, that’s a tragedy.’ 

While wellness influencers can be helpful when it comes to general wellness information, Baker stresses that it’s important to stay in touch with genuine medical professionals too.  

So, how else can we get medical advice online? 

Is Google good for medical advice? 

At one point or another, we’ve probably all looked up our symptoms online. But is Google actually a good option for medical advice, or could it do us more harm than we realise?  

Baker says that, in general, reading up on medical conditions is a really smart idea and it can help both doctors and patients make decisions together.  

There’s a caveat, though: don’t assume that everything you read is definitely right. 

‘A challenge is when people get information from poor sources – then we’re not just building a shared understanding, but we also have to undo misinformation before we can move forward,’ Baker says. ‘That makes the conversation harder, but it’s part of the process.’ 

Can ChatGPT give medical advice? 

Since it hit the internet in late 2020, ChatGPT has been a go-to source of information on everything from recipes to school homework – and it’s easy to figure out how to get medical advice from the bot.  

But just how reliable is ChatGPT at giving medical advice?  

One study suggests ChatGPT is about on par with the information generally available online. Experts like Baker see the benefits in using ChatGPT for advice but, without years of medical training, it’s worth being cautious – and chatting to a genuine doctor. 

‘I’d be very careful about using ChatGPT for medical advice,’ he says. ‘It’s fine for getting general ideas, but I’d always follow it up with a more reputable source or use it as a starting point for a conversation with a health professional.’ 

How to effectively get medical advice from professionals 

Heading to the doctor is a really positive choice. However, for many people, a visit to the doctor’s office can be anxiety inducing. White coat syndrome is a very real thing.   

When it comes tohow to get good medical advice from professionals, coming prepared is your best bet. 

Here are some of Baker’s top tips to consider before scheduling that doctor’s visit.  

• Visit a trusted primary care doctor: ‘Someone you’ve seen over many years will already know your history and might be able to connect the dots between past and present health issues, even ones you’ve forgotten about,’ Baker says. 
• Whoever you visit, be prepared: ‘If you have specific questions, write them down beforehand.’ 
• Don’t be afraid to ask questions: ‘As with any important conversation, you want to find someone who listens to you, answers your questions, and makes you feel confident in your care.’ 

What are 5 reliable sources of health information?  

It’s always great to think critically and to be sceptical of where information is coming from.  

Here are five reliable sources of health information that can get you medical advice you can trust. 

1. Primary care doctor
2. State and federal Department of Health websites: This includes Better Health here in Victoria, and Healthdirect nationally.
3. Hospital websites: Including the Royal Children’s Hospital clinical practice guidelines.
4. Internationally trusted sources: Including the Mayo Clinic.
5. Grassroots organisations: Especially for conditions like asthma, epilepsy, functional neurological disorders and rare diseases. 

In conclusion: How to empower yourself with reliable medical advice 

How do we get the right medical advice when there are so many sources out there? As Tim Baker has shown us, there are reliable sources of health advice everywhere – from  government websites to our local medical clinics.  

The way to empower yourself with these sources is to understand how to use them, when to use them and that, if you’re unsure, seeking professional medical advice is always the right option.