Medical+advice+on+the+Internet+or+a+CD-ROM



Additional Information Lana Bilani



[|MEDICAL ADVICE ON THE INTERNET OR ACD-ROM]
There are two different types of medical advice via the internet. One is a preset questionnaire that asks the user what problems or symptoms does he or she have. The user clicks on the one closest to his problem or health condition. At this moment the choices narrow until the user gets to the end, where the internet software tells the user what is his problem. Of course it may be a completely wrong diagnosis same as using the CD-ROM which uses exactly the same system(preset questionnaire). The best medical advice you can get via the internet is by chatting with a doctor on the other end. You may have a camera and a microphone, therefore you can see the doctor talk as if you were in his consulting room. This source of medical advice is very reliable. It's basically the same as if you visited the doctor, but virtually from your house. The questionnaire may offer many different solutions to a given problem. At the end of the questionnaire the user gets an offer of an e-mail consultation with a doctor or an interview via the telephone. Many people nowadays search medical advice using the internet, because it is time saving and reliable. Of course the professional online health care isn't for free. The customer has to type in his bank account number and a specific amount of money gets transferred to the online health care organization from the customers' bank account. This type of electronic payment is called the e-commerce. Both internet and CD-ROM medical health care software is not as reliable as a chat or a video conference with the doctor.
 * How does medical advice via the internet or a CD-ROM work?**
 * Advantages**


 * Time saving
 * Cushy(people don't have to leave their homes)
 * Anonymous
 * Disadvantages**


 * Information from a preset questionnaire may be misleading and give a wrong diagnosis
 * Dependence on machines and technology (Internet)
 * Costly
 * Social and Ethical issues:**[[image:http://www1.istockphoto.com/file_thumbview_approve/834214/2/istockphoto_834214_doctor_online.jpg link="@http://www1.istockphoto.com/file_thumbview_approve/834214/2/istockphoto_834214_doctor_online.jpg"]]

Operation of Hardware and design of the software The reliability of data Correspondence of data for both doctors and patients
 * **Reliability**
 * **Integrity**

Software has to be protected so no one will hack it
 * **Security**

The people using medical health care on-line or via a CD-Rom can stay anonymous Health issues are private and personal. Via the internet the users can stay anonymous Each user will enter an account number if paying for the online health care, which is his authentication
 * **Privacy and anonymity**
 * **Authenticity**

Anyone having an internet connection, hardware and software can use online and CD-Rom health care
 * **Equality of access**

No matter where on the planet you are, you can use this service
 * **Globalization and Cultural diversity**

The internet chatting or video conference software will be effective because the customer talks with the doctor as if he was in his consulting room, but the preset questionnaire is not so effective. This technology extends human facilities and makes work easier.
 * **People and Machines**