‘The Good Doctor’ Season 3 Episode 14 shows how trend of DIY remedies are risking both patients and doctors
It is no news that people today have more than necessary information at hand, particularly when it comes to health and wellness. It is very easy to get influenced by social media stars and learn about 'easy ways' to address health issues and illnesses. Whether such sources are authentic or not, the power of social influence goes far and beyond, making people believe everything they see and hear.
In fact, the episode ‘Influence’ was just about that. The point in discussion stems from the case of the day, where we saw a single mother suffering from an intestinal blockage and the doctors at St. Bonaventure Hospital had their best people on the same. When the patient’s three-year-old daughter blurts out a funny fact, Dr. Claire Browne couldn’t help but look into it. And thus, the doctors found out that the patient had been trying to treat her UTI (Urinary Tract Infection) by watching an online video. Without going into the microscopic details of the remedy, let’s focus on what it means. As Neil pointed out during the surgery, “people going online to take medical advice…it’s an epidemic.” This is not just true but a huge danger for all.
While some non-invasive remedies might be helpful in the short term, more serious issues require professional medical attention. To Neil’s comment, Dr. Claire Browne responded saying, “It’s not a problem, but a symptom.” With rising medical costs and lesser options in healthcare benefits, people look to easier, economical options and with doctors becoming “more impatient and incompetent,” people really don’t have a choice. However, that does not justify the risks that people are posing to themselves and to the entire medical fraternity. Self-diagnosis is dangerous. With wrong diagnoses, people end up opting for wrong treatment which only worsens their conditions and by the time they realize the need for professional help, it is usually too late. At such crucial stages, expecting doctors to do wonders is not only unfair but also impossible. This puts doctors equally at a loss and their careers at risk since they cannot possibly wade through the effects of wrong medication that the patients have already put themselves through.
As much as alternative treatments for illnesses sound promising, they should only be done under professional supervision and counseling. And if you have good doctors like the ones at St. Bonaventure Hospital, you would be in good hands.
Watch ‘The Good Doctors’ Season 3, every Monday, 10 pm/9 c, only on ABC.