Why do some folks insist they'll only listen to their doctors?

Here’s a (very stupid) parody of the attitude as I imagine it from the most obstinate people with this view:

Well, my doctor says I need to take this medication, so that's what I'm going to do. I don't care what all those other people online are saying about their experiences with it. My doctor knows best, and I'm not going to listen to a bunch of anonymous strangers on the internet. They're probably just making stuff up anyway.

Sure, I get that a lot of people had some nasty side effects or didn't see any improvement, but my doctor assured me that won't happen to me. He's a professional, so I trust him completely. And I know he's only trying to help, not line his own pockets or anything.

All those online forums and support groups are just a waste of time. What could a bunch of regular people possibly know that my highly educated, experienced doctor doesn't? I'm going to take this medication exactly as prescribed and not ask any questions. My doctor is infallible, and I refuse to get a second opinion or consider any other options. Nope, I'm just going to blindly follow his advice and ignore everyone else. That's the smart and responsible thing to do!

(Yes, this is extraordinary (and like I said stupid), and yes your doctor knows more than JoeRando420 telling you to buy homeopathic crystal suppositories. In fact I only have one user in mind writing this post, someone I forget who posted long ago about a condition I cannot remember. Hope they got better.)

Main point is: why not let a large number of people who heard about a condition from their own qualified doctors help you at least scribble down some questions to ask your own medical folks at your next appointment? (But please avoid those crystal suppositories.)

Edit: thanks everybody, read all your posts and they're all great points! Glad I posted here. Thanks for reading something at least 80% dumb :)

spittingimage ,
@spittingimage@lemmy.world avatar

One very good example of what you're describing is the people who were insisting that vaccination gives you magnetic blood during the Covid outbreak. I've become very suspicious about the wisdom of crowds.

BreadOven ,

While I don't think you should base your decisions on opinions from random people on the Internet, I also don't think you should blindly follow your doctor.

I've seen many older doctors not keep up with more current treatments, or refuse to prescribe some things because their new/they don't know about them.

I've also seen far too many people get into med school, who I wouldn't trust to put a bandaid on.

That being said, your doctor should know what's best for you (as others have mentioned). But there's no problem with getting a second opinion/doing some research (legitimate research, not just stuff to prove your opinion).

Tl;Dr: probably trust your doctor, but be open to other (valid) opinions.

Thavron ,
@Thavron@lemmy.ca avatar

I've also seen far too many people get into med school, who I wouldn't trust to put a bandaid on.

Isn't that why they're going to med school? To learn (among other things) how to best put the bandaid on?

BreadOven ,

You are right. I should have specified seen them get in and through med school. But it's mainly their reason for going into it ($$$), and sometimes lack of skill.

I do trust most doctor's opinions though.

RichardHorizon ,
@RichardHorizon@lemmy.zip avatar

Well, Yes.
Your doctor does know better than the people sharing their experience online!
Your own doctor knows how your body functions and will prescribe your medicine accordingly.

They will also make sure the medicine they give you won't harm you or your body.

Rhynoplaz ,

Since this is an experience you had with a single person, here's my take on it: That interaction was one moment to you, but the other person had a lifetime to develop that mindset.

I don't know who you're talking about, or what their ailment is, but they've probably been discussing it online for a while, and have probably gotten a LOT of medical recommendations. Some of them, great advice from people with experience, the rest are crystal suppositories.

They probably just wanted to stick to the topic at hand or vent about an experience without having to sift through a bunch of people telling them about meds they've already researched or why they should go vegan.

rufus ,

Yeah, the internet is an echo chamber. You get lots of bad advice here. And urban myths are regularly being upvoted to no end. Especially here on Lemmy.

Usually a doctor should know things, they studied medicine for years.

And there are people with certain attitudes... People who only respond well to arguments of authority... And people who have a different perspective on subjectivity/objectivity and the factual world. Lots of people just want to believe something. And they'll search for any fake news supporting them or letting them believe whatever supports what they're set on.

I'd say if you're intelligent and know how to do research, and have the time to do so, look up things and learn things. If you can't do that: Stick with authority.

And most importantly: Don't ask on Lemmy or Reddit if you don't want to talk to random people and listen to them.

FuglyDuck ,
@FuglyDuck@lemmy.world avatar

Main point is: why not let a large number of people who heard about a condition from their own qualified doctors help you at least scribble down some questions to ask your own medical folks at your next appointment? (But please avoid those crystal suppositories.)

Because:

  1. You have no way of verifying their anecdotes ever happened, that they were prescribed and on the medication
  2. no way of knowing other circumstances that affect medications, like drug interactions, or other unfortunate habits they might have had
  3. they have no knowledge of your underlying medical situation
  4. your doctor has 2 and 3, and should have access to studies in lieu of 1.
  5. Internet Randos are inherently untrustworthy.
  6. your doctor doesn’t get paid if you die.
breadsmasher ,
@breadsmasher@lemmy.world avatar

Option 1 - trust the medical professional sat in front of me, looking at my health data and making informed suggestions

Option 2 - Trust the village idiots online who don’t trust doctors and would instead suggest many nonsense remedies

sukhmel ,

I'd say it's a matter of what are the chances of bad advice. If something people on the internet are talking about is widely known, there would also be papers with research, and I'm better off reading that. If it's a niche stuff, their talk on the internet doesn't bear statistical significance anyway.

Sure, there are scammers and incompetent doctors, but I would rather ask several people with a medical license, than several thousand laymen that think they are competent enough to give advices

PahassaPaikassa ,

If your car is making a rumble noise, you take it to a mechanic who tells you its a failed wheel bearing. Do you then go and change the gearbox because you dont trust professionals?

parody OP ,

Haha might just ask “hey does the gearbox ever rumble like that?”, that’s all 🙂

s/o to old school car forums who’ve guided my way when I’ve known zero, btw

PahassaPaikassa ,

And then the mechanic will answer "yes. But its the wheel bearing thats making the noise." Do you then go to the car forums and ask help with chaning the gearbox or do you trust the professional and change the wheel bearing?

slazer2au ,

Why trust the one professional who went through a decade of training and has my multi decade history over a group of people who spoke with their professional who went through a decade of training and doesn't have my multi decade history?

Well if I have a bad reaction to a medication, my doctor can work with manufacturers to also prescribe a medication to prevent the problem, or a more generic drug without those effects. where a group of random people will do the equivalent of throwing shit at the wall and hope it sticks.

Kolanaki ,
@Kolanaki@yiffit.net avatar

I have no way of knowing if they actually heard anything from their doctor, or if they are a doctor if they claim to be. If I think it's concerning, I'll talk to my doctor whom I can verify is actually who they say they are about it.

It's a matter of trust. I simply do not trust anyone I can't actually talk face to face with.

parody OP ,

Good point.

Would you take a risk when reading from someone who may be lying to you, to the point you would

scribble down some questions to ask your own medical folks

?

breadsmasher ,
@breadsmasher@lemmy.world avatar

“Hello doctor! I read on a forum, filled with anonymous strangers, that if I dissolve all my medication in urine, it purifies it of all toxins! Can you vouch for that?”

Is absolutely not a conversation I want to have with my doctor.

parody OP ,

lol fair. Point taken!

Not a counterpoint to you, but a shoutout to this one doc:

You reminded me of a time 15 years ago when I very timidly mentioned to a doctor that I did do a very quick Google search, and the doctor quickly affirmed me: "hey, Google is a source!" or something like that. I further explained something like "OBVIOUSLY I came here to talk to a person with REAL medical experience, which is why I feel silly bringing it up, but ..."

I'm thankful I wasn't searching for how to purify toxins with sterile beverages. Thank you :)

sukhmel ,

Albeit talking face to face is only a necessary condition, it's not enough for trusting the person to advise you

tobogganablaze ,

Getting a second opinion is a very common thing for people with serious conditions. Not really sure what you're on about.

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