Can you trust your health to the Internet? Nearly 8 million Americans search the Internet daily for medical advice on everything from bumps and bruises to cancer. But consumers should beware: this growing phenomenon of instantaneous medical advice, offered by "Google PhDs," has a dark and dangerous side. Anyone can put seemingly authoritative medical advice on the Internet whether or not it has any scientific merit.
In this provocative and eye-opening book, prominent health care advocate and journalist Dr. Robert Goldberg reveals how the media, trial attorneys, anti-industry activists, and politicians work together to create a shadow campaign of doubt and fear about the safety of medical treatments. Dr. Goldberg reveals how the internet is used to scare the public and hide a political agenda, while preying on people's insecurities to the ultimate detriment of both the individual and public health. Dr. Goldberg investigates the rise of the "instant expert," and shows how this new style of medical debate allows sensationalism and celebrity status to outweigh science and knowledge.
Whether its shaping our search for information on vaccines, weight loss, hormone replacement therapy or depression, tabloid medicine harms our health and threatens future progress against disease. Importantly, Dr. Goldberg also provides the reader with a how to guide for separating fearmongering from scientific fact. He also shows how the Internet is also a powerful platform for sharing ideas and information that is being used to accelerate the search for cures and give us more control over our health and well-being.
In this provocative and eye-opening book, prominent health care advocate and journalist Dr. Robert Goldberg reveals how the media, trial attorneys, anti-industry activists, and politicians work together to create a shadow campaign of doubt and fear about the safety of medical treatments. Dr. Goldberg reveals how the internet is used to scare the public and hide a political agenda, while preying on people's insecurities to the ultimate detriment of both the individual and public health. Dr. Goldberg investigates the rise of the "instant expert," and shows how this new style of medical debate allows sensationalism and celebrity status to outweigh science and knowledge.
Whether its shaping our search for information on vaccines, weight loss, hormone replacement therapy or depression, tabloid medicine harms our health and threatens future progress against disease. Importantly, Dr. Goldberg also provides the reader with a how to guide for separating fearmongering from scientific fact. He also shows how the Internet is also a powerful platform for sharing ideas and information that is being used to accelerate the search for cures and give us more control over our health and well-being.
