Re unqualified people giving medical opinions on Internet

They do it cos the OP asks for their opinions.End of.
Nobody has to take replies as gospel, but posters try and be helpful.

I take your point (and I have read some weird and wonderful “diagnoses” which are at best far-fetched), but ..
1) a poster may be speaking from experience
2) we do have some doctors/dentists/nurses among our members
Of course nobody should accept unqualified advice as “gospel” but sometimes all that is needed is some comfort, solidarity or a little push towards a health professional.
My experience some years ago was of wise advice from retired GP Galen when I described what we found out later had been a TIA and she advised me to get DH to a Dr, calling an ambulance if necessary.

But it's irresponsible. Of course the OP shouldn't be asking for medical opinions from a bunch if strangers on the Internet. But neither should posters be responding with uninformed opinions that could either falsely reassure someone that "oh my aunty's Mildred had those symptoms years ago and is doing fine. Nothing to worry about" or scaring the life out of someone by telling them they very possibly have terminal cancer when the poster hasn't a clue what they're talking about.

The only sensible reply to such OPs is
" It's probably nothing serious but you should see your GP just to be certain ".

Oreo

They do it cos the OP asks for their opinions.End of.
Nobody has to take replies as gospel, but posters try and be helpful.

This

Personally, I am glad they do.

I asked for opinions and got them.
Something less serious that possible heart attack, stroke etc.

I have tried some of the ideas out.
I have seen all the GPs at my practice, 3 nurses, showed 3 pharmacists.

It surprises me that on here if someone says they are a lawyer, Doctor or other any profession it is accepted as true and advice given is taken as correct.

Maybe these people are sick and tired of waiting to actually see a doctor. But seriously I think most people would see a doc or ring 111 and end up in A&E if they suspected something was wrong.

I can understand frightened or desperate people asking for advice on the Internet and qualified people giving their view which usually includes advising the OP to go to their GP or A&E. It's the people who have no qualifications and just hand out wild and ill informed opinions that I find really irresponsible.

Sometimes it’s just good to see possible explanations or recommendations for something.Posters can then google medical sites for more accurate ( possibly) info.

It’s taking uninformed anecdotal opinions as medical fact that is really irresponsible.

RosiesMaw2

It’s taking uninformed anecdotal opinions as medical fact that is really irresponsible.

Exactly this.

Mostly here the GPs send patients off to specialists after ordering many tests. Even though they are qualified doctors most of them don’t diagnose anything, especially anything serious. If they can’t/ won’t what hope is there for an unknown online person making a diagnosis. We have 3 medical practitioners in our family and they wouldn’t dream of diagnosing until tests are completed.

If someone asks for an opinion and it's something I have experienced or a family member then I explain my symptoms and that of my family and the out come . But always say see a GP or ask to be referred to a consultant about whatever the condition might be.

But I do have first hand knowledge of a number of conditions and have asked others if things that happen to me have happened to anyone else.
There are people on GN with medical knowledge through there careers .

People don't have to follow opinions but I know for a fact people have helped me and I have helped others .

I never read Mumsnet .

RosiesMaw2

It’s taking uninformed anecdotal opinions as medical fact that is really irresponsible.

I agree. But they're often presented as medical fact on Mumsnet. I think people are more circumspect on GN and will say "those symptoms are similar to ones my husband had when he was diagnosed with x. Maybe you should ask your doctor for tests", whereas on Mumsnet you will often get posters confidently telling an OP that they definitely have x and should go to A&E NOW.

It isn’t just medical stuff. Legal too, and things like Benefits.

Usually you can tell by the way a response is worded, whether the writer knows what they are talking about. Give away words are I think, I believe….
Opinions can be so misleading, when it is facts that are needed.

I agree about not taking 'advice' as actual medical facts, but social media can be an enormous source of help and support for those suffering from the same conditions as one another. I've found a couple of Facebook groups which have proved invaluable for those with the same gut problems as I have. It's not about giving factual medical advice per se, more about support from others who really do understand what you are going through - and the admins and moderators do a great job in always pointing people to official sources of facts and information wherever possible.

Most responses to such questions are well thought out and usually caveated.
Posters will urge the OP to see a doctor or calm them down whilst waiting for results.
On the whole Gransnet is a pretty good support group.

Well, having just had a doctor make two misdiagnoses of TIAs, when they were nothing of the sort makes me feel that I would be better off with the opinion of people on GN than a doctor!

Thankfully, my real problem was not serious and has been dealt with, but I shudder to think of what might have happened had it been serious.

I do not think people on GN are telling people what the problem is, but they are suggesting possible diagnoses, and I can see no harm in knowing the wide variety of medical problems that the same symptoms can be.

When a doctor cannot tell the difference between a stroke and carpal tunnel syndrome, you need all the unqualified advice you can get.

Personally, I think it OK if it is clear. I have sometimes given advice - very carefully - based on nursing experience. I hope it has been helpful.
Of course, no-one knows if I am qualified or not, and I remain carefully anonymous.
I have noted that mostly people are quite quick to say 'go to your GP / other qualified person' rather than give false reassurance. Sometimes there are very good suggestions about where advice may be found.
This is a very grey area, and I think questions such as this are helpful in reminding us to use caution.

When a doctor cannot tell the difference between a stroke and carpal tunnel syndrome luckily our dr can and OH is very relieved

When you live alone, it's handy to be able to ask people what they think.

If I had someone here, I'd show them and say "what do you think of this?"

It's just the same, yo my mind.

Vintagejazz

RosiesMaw2

It’s taking uninformed anecdotal opinions as medical fact that is really irresponsible.

I agree. But they're often presented as medical fact on Mumsnet. I think people are more circumspect on GN and will say "those symptoms are similar to ones my husband had when he was diagnosed with x. Maybe you should ask your doctor for tests", whereas on Mumsnet you will often get posters confidently telling an OP that they definitely have x and should go to A&E NOW.

Well I can’t comment on!Mumsnet and don’t really see the relevance of bringing it in.
However you do seem quite hung up on this OP, I wonder if you have had a bad experience.

RosiesMaw2

It’s taking uninformed anecdotal opinions as medical fact that is really irresponsible.

🎯

Well my original post was based on threads I've seen on Mumsnet. No I haven't personally had a bad experience but have seen so many people on MN and some other forums giving ill informed medical advice and presenting it as fact that I thought it was an issue worth discussion.

When my husband was first diagnosed with cancer I joined a support group on Facebook. We were always very strict about not giving advice that we were not qualified to offer. What we could do was share ideas that had helped us cope with side effects of treatment, offer reassurance that some of these side effects were quite normal and suffered by a lot of patients, and advise people to contact the team treating them if their problems sounded serious.