Figure 14-3
➟ Remember that the nomenclature .orgat the end of
a site name denotes a non-profit organization rather
than a commercial business. A site such as Mayo
Clinic.org (www.mayoclinic.org; shown in Figure
14-4), focused on research and education, won’t
bombard you with advertisements for healthcare
products, and visiting the site may be less likely to
result in spam.Your health and the health of those you love is not
something to take chances on. Although qualified
medical Web sites provide a wealth of information
that can help you understand symptoms and illnesses,
no source will provide you with better or more reli-
able information than a well-trained medical special-
ist who knows you, your family members, or your pet.
Before treating yourself based on information you
find online, always consult with your medical advisor.Remember many medical Web sites are for-profit busi-
nesses, and as such are there to make money. This
isn’t a bad thing per se, but you do need to be aware
of how they make their money, and if their recom-
mendations are biased towards their own products.
You also need to be clear about how they treat any
information you disclose about yourself, as they may
sell information to drug and medical companies. It’s
critical that you’re aware of the terms and conditions
and privacy rights to make informed choices about
what information you share.The Health On the Net Foundation seal283