When you go onto the web to look for medical information make
sure you get proper professional advice from your GP or specialist
to avoid unproven health information.
Kidney Health Australia has released a fact sheet the
"Using the Internet to Research Health Information" on
the organization's own website is aimed at protecting people seeking
medical advice.
Many people who are suffering a chronic disease
are vulnerable and if given the wrong information can make decisions
which can influence their health says KHA CEO Anne Wilson as there
are no rules controlling the quality of health information that
appears on websites.
Kidney Health Australia says alarm bells should ring viewing a
site that has the following qualities:
Does the site only use case histories or personal testimonies as
proof?
Is the treatment based on a secret formula?
Does the treatment claim to work on everyone with that
condition?
Does the treatment claim to work immediately and permanently
with no further medical intervention required?
Is the treatment available only from one source? - Eg. over the
internet.
Does the site claim that information about their treatment is
being covered up or unfairly attacked by medical professionals?
Does the site claim to have a cure for a condition?
Does the site promote self-diagnosis and self prescription?
Kidney Health Australia says consumers need to ask three basic
questions:
Who runs the website and are they credible?
Who
pays for the website? Is the material evidence based or focused on
selling products?
A full fact sheet is available from www.kidney.org.au
under the patient information section Click
Here To Download
Media Enquiries:
Anne Wilson, CEO Kidney Health Australia
Mobile: 0400 165 391
Dr Tim Mathew, Medical Director Kidney
Health Australia Mobile: 0416 149 863
Ron Smith Media
Communications Kidney Health Australia Mobile: 0417 329 201
