The Effects of the Internet and Social Media on Medical Decisions
An eight-year-old boy had a third relapse of leukemia, which was treated without success. The child was discharged in acceptable general health. The parents understood that any further active treatment represented a high risk and would most probably deprive the child of a good life during the time when he could live normally. After a while, however, the parents again contacted the hospital to discuss further treatment because their relatives and neighbors had read on the internet about the child’s condition and alternative types of treatment.
- Could the information read on the internet for further treatment, given to the parents by their relatives and neighbors, helpful to the parents?
- What would be the benefits of that information?
- What would be the burdens of that information?
- Would you support the parent’s decision not to provide further active treatment that would most probably deprive the child of a good life during this time when he could live normally?
Apply Theory (Specific Professional Healthcare Competencies + Clinical Medical Ethical Principles) to Practice in order to provide Optimal Patient-Centered Care (OPCC)
J Med Ethics 2005;31:73–77. doi: 10.1136/jme.2003.003954
