[G Larry]

I said don’t pretend your google research can replace a medical degree!!!!

Research and ask questions until you’re satisfied they’ve been answered.

You must posses enough critical thinking skills to understand the difference between having valid concerns dismissed and having them thoroughly considered.

[fr_freak]

I said don’t pretend your google research can replace a medical degree!!!!

You must be getting frustrated, because I see your use of exclamation points is increasing. Well, I'm getting a little frustrated, too, because I don't ever recall suggesting that people should consider internet research to be a proper substitute for a medical degree, and yet, here you are, tossing that strawman out.

I am merely trying to make the point that when one does his own research, even before any initial doctor's visit, one is doing himself a favor because one is not replacing 10 years of medical training with the internet, one is protecting himself against stupidity, incompetence and apathy in a doctor. Doctors aren't perfect, and their medical degrees don't guarantee that they will approach any subject with competency, anymore than a trade school mechanics certification guarantees that your mechanic will fix your car right. To me, a doctor is merely one more resource available to me to help fix my problem; he is not the final arbiter of fixing my problem.

Bear in mind that doctors kill something like 100,000 people a year in the US with misdiagnoses, mistreatment and other forms of malpractice.