Self Diagnosis In Health Care

A few decades ago, an unusual cough or a painful headache resulted in an immediate visit to the doctor. Scared that their symptoms were associated with a terrible disease, people were unwilling to relieve their pain on their own or wait until it passes. However, today’s Americans are more autonomous and take the alternative route: self-diagnosis. With the advancement of technology, a simple search on healthcare websites like WebMD or a quick post on social media can offer immediate answers to the ill’s symptoms and treatment options. Since WebMD’s creation in 1996, self-diagnosing has become increasingly popular during these two decades. In a 2013 research done by Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project, 59% of people search

This, as a result, has caused many of them to seek other methods to receive health care and bypass physicians they believe are trustworthy. Soon after the creation of WebMD, anti-authoritarians discovered self-diagnosis which they viewed as a safer alternative. Giving users the independence to diagnose and treat illnesses, these health care websites eliminate the need to schedule an appointment with a doctor. As the anti-authoritarian culture becomes more prevalent in the American society today, members of the culture have also increased the number of self-diagnosis users. Stern reports that WebMD attracts more than 22.5 million monthly visitors and it is reasonable to assume that the majority of them are anti-authoritarians who have learned to distrust doctors because of their lack of resiliency and negative stories dominating media

Diagnosis and treatment were once viewed as medical processes that required assistance from a professional doctor but has now changed into actions that can be easily completed independently. Not only has this new culture seemingly removed doctors from health care, but it has also exposed the doubt that Americans have on authorities. Today, authorities are not viewed as knowledgeable and helpful human beings, but are rather described as people who commit small, unforgiving mistakes and are capable of hurting others. The aggressive attitudes of anti-authoritarians have not made them seem more superior than authorities but has only given Americans a cowardly