Healthcare That

Makes You Feel

Better

G

etting the best information about your
health and the health of your family
members (including pets) is important. So
where do you go for advice?

Sixty percent of consumers now turn to the
Internet for medical advice, according to
research conducted by the Opinion Research
Corporation in the Fall of 2007. Alarmingly, 54
percent follow online advice even when they
don’t believe it!

In this chapter, we look at how you can take
advantage of the great information online
related to healthcare, both from Web sites and
others like yourself who share their thoughts
and experiences. We explore the convenience
and pitfalls of buying drugs online. Finally, we
give you a rundown of various types of abuses,
including medical ID theft and medical scams,
so that you can navigate the world of Internet
health resources safely.

14

In this chapter...

➟Connect with Others with

Similar Concerns ..............280

➟Be Wise about Using

Online Medical Advice ......282

➟Discount Drugs and Online

Prescriptions......................284

➟Medical Identity Theft ........286

➟Warning Signs of Health

Fraud ..............................288

➟Surveys on Health Can

Make You Sick ..................290

➟Miracle Medicine

For Sale............................292

➟

Chapter