If you guessed the Internet, take two gold stars and call me in the morning.
From an article in Slate:
Asymmetric information is one of the reasons for excess E.R. use — information that doctors have but patients don’t. The truth is many people don’t have a good way to judge whether a headache or fever is a true medical emergency. Heralded medical stories may contribute: Think about the coverage about Tim Russert’s sudden death from a heart attack right after receiving a clean bill of health from his cardiologist. Now say you’re the one feeling lightheaded: How do you know you’re not going to just drop dead? All the health information on the Internet can serve only to feed the flames of misunderstanding and worry: Google any symptom, and you find a comprehensive list of the deadly diseases that you may have but probably don’t. It’s quite nerve-racking, and it drives people who may not need to be there to the E.R.
What’s the alternative? Willful ignorance with a tablespoon of hope?
