Skip to main content

How did we get along before the advent of the internet?

In my last post at the Medical Blog Network, I talked about patients being proactive, and sharing responsibility for their care. Even Steve Beller PhD talks about it in his latest post. But none of this could have been remotely possible without the aid of the internet, and it's ability to put us in easy contact with doctors, patients and others experts around the world to fill voids and keep up with the latest research.

So I can't help but ask myself, how did we ever got along before the internet?

I don't know how many of you in the cyberworld were around prior to the internet becoming part of US and world culture. I know that I was, but what is so amazing about that statement is, I really can't remember what it was like without the aid of the internet. The internet has become such an integral part of my life, I really can't imagine a time without it.

How did we make airline reservations? How did we figure out how to get from point A to point B? How did we get along so well without email? But worst of all, what did people do when they got sick before there was an internet? How did they know whether their doctor was prescribing the correct treatment protococals? How did they keep up with the latest advances in medicine? How did they even know if they were diagnosed correctly?

I bring this up, because of my experiences with the internet. If it weren't for the internet, I would have had to put my full blind faith and trust in my doctor. Even for the most competent of doctors, can you imagine the pressure that put them under! No wonder so many of us still think of them as gods.

Because of the internet, I learned doctors are not gods. The are actually human beings, possessing the same human frailties and capable of the same mistakes as the rest of us. It was because of the internet I discovered that my first oncologist had little idea of what he was talking about, and wouldn't even listen to the contradictions I put in front of him. He obviously thought of himself as a god, or he didn't make use of the internet.

So as I was reflecting on world events this morning, I thought I would give a special thanks to all those who helped develope the internet, including the military establishment that provided the motivation for its developement. The internet just may be the single biggest factor effecting change to the face of US health care than any other single factor.

Cross posted on the Medical Blog Network - A Patients Journey

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

History IS repeating itself

I didn't grow up during the rise and fall of Hitler and Nazi Germany, so for me to claim it feels like those are the times we are living in now, must be taken with a grain of salt. But I have seen enough movies, and read enough history to know, if the times we're living in now are not akin to the rise of a Nazism and Facism in Europe in the 1930's and 1940's, then we're not far off. If you can't see the parallels with Nazi Germany, then you must be living in a different country than me. Republicans and other right wing extremists will stop at nothing to subvert the will of the majority, forcing their beliefs, that they are the superior race and have been appointed by God, to impose their will on America, while they blame all our problems on immigrants, blacks and Jews. As I speak, Mitch McConnell, and his minions are raising roadblocks to all legislation designed to help average Americans under the guise of fiscal responsibility. They condone violent and verba...

Open letter to all Democrats

Stop the nonsense! Continuing to go after Trump, without any hope of getting a conviction, does nothing more than provide Republicans with an obstructionist dialogue (now that they have come up with the unconstitutional talking point) in addition to giving Trump much needed publicity, when we should be ignoring him. It's the pure definition of insanity, doing the same thing over and over again, and expecting a different result! Instead Democrats need to be laser focused on what is important to all Americans, i.e. healthcare, Social Security and Medicare, infrastructure reform, the Covid-19 vaccine rollout, to name just a few. And when you do talk about Trump, simply steer the conversation as to how the Trump administration botched everything, how Trump is responsible for the deaths of 400,000+ Americans, due to his inaction and the down playing of the pandemic, plus the deaths of 2 Capitol policeman during the insurrection Trump provoked and incited on January 6, 2021. ...

Stop the stupidity!

Rural medical center (in Georgia) suspended from vaccination program after inoculating school district staff. Give me a break! Trying to get kids back to school, while protecting teachers, bus drivers and other staff, is exactly what school districts should be doing. If they have vaccines, give them out. We should be giving out vaccines to all who want them, whenever available. Trying to adhere to rigid guidelines will only result in fewer people getting vaccines, resulting in the discarding of precious vaccines, and less protection for everyone. Of course we should be giving first priority to healthcare workers, and any other essential public service employees, such as policeman, fireman, etc. first, but when they're not around to receive shots, or refuse shots, then give them to anyone willing to take them. What I would have objected to is the medical center trying to capitalize on the pandemic to make a profit, from giving vaccines to people far down the list of recipients, but ...