When the patient is a googler

Everyone seems to have an opinion about a Time magazine story "When the patient is a googler," found here http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1681838,00.html. As usual, the comments on the New York Times Health section is busy http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/11/19/a-doctors-disdain-for-medical-googlers/.

I can understand physicians frustrations with patients who use Google as their first source of medical information. But I think it is too easy to paint doctors as paternalistic jerks who just want their patients to be quiet and do as they are told. I have always contended that health and effective physician-patient communication is a two-way street. Yes it is important for doctors to be open, use understandable language and listen. It is important for doctors to be respectful and to help facilitate a patient's autonomy. But patients also have a responsibility to be honest about their symptoms, to be polite, to appreciate and respect their doctors expertise, and to not create a hostile communication environment. If you come in second-guessing every thing that comes out of the doctor's mouth and act like you have as much medical expertise just because you found a couple articles online, you can expect to be met with some annoyance, if not outright hostility. Not to say patients shouldn't come to the doctor's office prepared. To facilitate effective communication, I believe patients do have a responsibility to be prepared for their appointment by having a list of their medications and even preparing questions in advance, including perhaps questions about medical stories they saw online or on television. And patients should not be afraid to ask questions or seek a second opinion as necessary. But as with most things, patients and physicians must strike a balance. And sometimes the most important part of communication is politeness by all parties.