to expect a GP NOT to have to google

[Justforlaughs]

a vasectomy! or "anbesol"?
I was talking to a friend about the GPs at our local surgery and she mentioned a new doctor who had had to Google a "vasectomy" when her husband asked about having one. He didn't know whether the patient was eligible, what the process involved and any possible complications.
I then went to the GP and saw a male doctor, who I had never seen before (and have ASSUMED, rightly or wrongly, but due to a process f elimination, not unreasonably, that it was the same one) because DD had mouth ulcers. I asked whether I should use Anbesol or similar - and he had never heard of it.
Now, I don't GPs to be infallable, or to have detailed knowledge of every possible diagnosis and medication available, but surely both of these should be pretty standard knowledge. So AIBU to wonder where he trained?? and what grade of degree he got?? (Not that I think it's relevant, but just in case anyone else wonders - due to my question about where he trained - he is White British)

I love a doctor who takes their job seriously enough to google/clarify/research instead of just fudging a line if they are unsure.

To me, it's a sign of a conscientious doctor.

Oh come on - there's a vast difference between googling something yourself and a qualified expert googling it. I use google all the time for my professional research.

If you google vasectomy guidelines the first few sites brought up are,

European association of urology guidelines
Nhs guidelines
British association of urology guidelines.

I'd guess he looked at that sort of stuff rather than a chat on vasectomy experiences on singletrackworld.com or some other blokey website.

OMG someone checking info - shoot them.

they all do it. mine's over 70 and he can't leave it alone.

My belgian GP, here in Belgium, uses the NHS website to check information

May as well diagnose ourselves and request the medicine ourselves from the surgery!

YANBU. Google will bring up all kinds of websites which may or may not contain accurate information. I'd have thought if anything it would be easier for them to have a bookmarked list of trusted medical sites.

Maybe they can tell which websites are to be trusted or not without needing to have a list.....you know, being intelligent professionals and all.

May as well diagnose ourselves and request the medicine ourselves from the surgery!

Don't be daft!

sandfrog Professionals who use the web generally know which sites to trust and also how to research the credentials of sites they are not familiar with.

Speaking of which, I actually discovered Mumsnet about two years ago while researching a particular topic for work. I am in the States and had never heard of it, but of course Google had.

My GP googles or gets one of his big medical books out to double check certain things. He'll usually turn the screen around so he can show us any interesting diagrams. Helpful but that habit almost did for DH during his appointment to talk about his vasectomy...

One of the GPs at our practice looks everything up. She's an experienced GP-probably in her 50s and been practicing since her 20s. It used to really worry me, but then I realised it isn't because she is incompetant, it is that she likes to make absolutely sure.
She's a lovely lady, and remembers the whole family, and their ailments, and asks after them. Last time I saw her I hadn't been to her for 3 years, and she was asking about how dd1's weight gain was-she was under the doctor for lack of weight gain 5 years ago, and how often dd2 saw the specialists now she was older, and whether ds was going to have a third grommet operation.
I was there for a repeat prescription for me, on my own...

If you want anbesol you could just go about and buy it and then you would not have to see this GP who you have already decided is useless.

I don't have a problem with it. My gp printed off a Bristol stool chart off Google for me last time I was in. I would much prefer a gp who is thorough and wanted to double check.

My GP said she didn't know what was wrong with me (very specific UTI related thing) but she'd ask her sister ( Luckily sister is top urinary specialist). Which she duly did and rang me at home that evening with an update and left a prescription for me to collect the next day.

I thought that was lovely. Everything you'd want in a GP, honest, problem solving, kind, went out of her way to get me the right advice.

I think being thorough and conscientious always involves double checking if you aren't sure...why wouldn't you want your GP to do that?

YABU
As a doctor we can't remember everything. Google will bring up official guidelines such as NICE. Much better to double check one's existing knowledge. We were always taught that it was a good thing to do as research and guidance is constantly changing.
PS Never heard of anbesol either.....

Doris my GP ex boss did the same, he comes from a family of doctors, socialises with doctors and knows someone who knows about everything! One phone call is usually all it took if he wasn't sure. The man had a fan club and there was damn near a riot when he retired!
I think it's good that any profession utilises all technology to help them do the job in the best way they can.
The only reason I know about anbesol is because my mum used it, otherwise I wouldn't have a clue.

It's disturbing because most people these days google symptoms before they go to their GP, fear being told off for doing that and then watch a qualified person do the same!!!

I usually start with....'I think I have.... and then they just confirm it.

Not... I googled my symptoms on the web...

Sure it wasn't the NHS Evidence search site, designed to have a single entry search box just like google?

Anyhoot, YABU - be reassured your GP is checking.

I would rather DDs now ex paediatrician had googled her symptoms rather than deciding he knew what was wrong before he'd even seen her. Thankfully her GP is happy to be told where to look for the most up to date research and advice on her condition.

melika I strongly suspect that when a GP googles they are not inputting a bunch of random symptoms like a member of the public might. They are most probably just double checking or narrowing down their first conclusion as to what the issue is. I'm a solicitor and do a similar thing all the time - sometimes using specialist legal websites but sometimes Google.

If someone can't see the difference between professional and "random punter" use of Google I think they are either not too bright or being highly disingenuous.

fluffyraggies

But the opposite is true.

Something like the BNF can be available as a book or online.

Not only does my GP occasionally look things up he will add things to his 'personal learning plan' if it is something new.

My gp once googled the drugs she wanted to prescribe me to see if they were safe for breast feeding. Simply because it was quicker than her computer system or looking in her book! I was fine with it.