• Anson Au.
• University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada anson.au@mail.utoronto.ca.
• Ann Fam Med. 2019 Sep 1; 17 (5): 462-464.

AbstractDuring a night of severe pain and weakness, I found several plausible-sounding diagnoses online: occipital neuralgia, nerve damage, and meningitis. The next day, I consulted a physician who did not offer professional guidance; instead the physician suggested tests entirely based on my self-diagnoses. What resulted was an unnecessary array of lengthy and costly testing that did not diagnose the problem. Although my symptoms disappeared on their own, I was left feeling mistrustful of my physician and ultimately stressed and anxious. Against the backdrop of my experience, I highlight the potential harms of Internet-based self-diagnoses and the importance of collaboration and trust in the patient-physician relationship.© 2019 Annals of Family Medicine, Inc.

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