What You Need to Know About Online Medical Resources
If you've been looking for health information on the Net then you've no doubt noticed that there are countless numbers of resources, all at the click of your mouse. Many sites provide useful information, while others may have information that is unreliable or misleading. The problem is: how do you know which sites are reputable, and provide reliable information, and which are not? The following will provide a general guideline:
Can you contact the site owner, or the author of an article?
Any good Web site should make it easy for you contact someone.
Who's funding the Website?
Websites cost money. The larger the site, the more it costs to run it. The source of funding should be apparent. For example, Web addresses ending in ".gov" denote a Federal Government-sponsored site. Other medical sites may be sponsored by the Pharmaceutical industry. Why does this matter? The source of funding can affect the content, how it is presented, and what the site owners want to accomplish on the site (especially if it's funded by drug companies).
The source of the information
Medical facts and figures should have references (such as to articles in medical journals).
Is the information up to date?
Large medical sites are reviewed and updated on a regular basis. Even if the medical information has not changed, you want to know if the information has been recently reviewed, to be sure it's up to date.
What personal information about you does the site collect, and why?
Websites routinely track the paths visitors take through their sites to determine what pages are being used. However, many health Websites ask for you to "subscribe" or "become a member." In some cases, this may be so that they can collect a user fee or select information for you that is relevant to your concerns. In all cases, this will give the site personal information about you. If there's any sort of form on the site, even a simple form collecting your email address, then there has to be a Privacy notice posted - and easy to find. Any Website asking for any kind of information should tell you exactly what they will and will not do with it. Many commercial sites sell information about their users to other companies. In some cases they may collect and reuse information that is "personally identifiable," such as your ZIP code, gender, and birth date. Be certain that you read and understand any privacy policy or similar language on the site. Don't sign up for anything that you are not sure you fully understand.
How to Report a Potential Problem
To report a health product that you believe is being advertised falsely,
Contact the FTC:
by phone, toll-free, at
1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357); TDD: 202-326-2502
by mail
Consumer Response Center, Federal Trade Commission, Washington, DC 20580
online
www.ftc.gov. Click on "File a Complaint Online."
To report a product that you believe is fraudulently labeled, call your local FDA office. The number is listed in the blue pages of the telephone book.
NOTE: Decisions about medical care and treatment should be made in consultation with a health care provider, based on the condition and needs of each person. We recommend discussing health material with a health care provider before making any decisions about treatment or care.