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)

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.

Am a doctor and have never heard of 'anbesol'.

I occasionally use the internet with patients - mainly looking at drug information, guidelines etc. Not symptom checking - I go to the next room for that!!

Bnf also available as an app on your smartphone.

YABU. The doctor wasn't googling "what are vasectomies?", he was googling about the procedures. As someone who suffers with horrific mouth ulcers due an autoimmune disease, I have never heard of anbesol. Do you really expect a doctor to know the name (brands included) or every medication that exists?

I am always heartened to see a doctor who isn't arrogant and admits when they don't know something.

The gp I went to for my flu jab to google whether it was safe for pregnant women. Despite me being sent for it because I'm pregnant. He was so shit at googling I had to google it on my phone and show him

Then he had to do two shots as he broke the first one.

Not sure he was even a gp he was so awful

makes you wonder what they did before they could google?

My mum has a relatively rare, but not unheard of medical condition and has sometimes has a crisis which means a trip to A&E - I have given up expecting the duty doctors to have a clue and just explain it all to them; What tests to do, what treatment to initiate - otherwise we end up waiting for the top banana fucking hours. What infuriates me is when they are too bloody arrogant to listen rather than thanking me for my help and giving my mum the treatment she needs. IV steriods and a hartmans drip - its not rocket science but unless you are familiar with the condition her symptoms often leave the HCPs scratching their heads. I have a PhD in biochemistry which helps, but i don't tell them that

I do think Dr Google is a bad thing in general.

I would be more than happy for a GP to check something up on google, or consult the MMS (is that the book?) for drug information, i do not expect them to have a knowledge of every single drug and their interactions in their heads and i would much rather they check!

The whole point is that a GP is a "specialist generalist" - in the nhs they see everything! My dh is one. I spoke to him this afternoon, he said he was exhausted today. When I asked why? - he'd seen a teenager asking for advice about a pregnancy, done his drug addiction clinic, diagnosed breast cancer, then prostate cancer, then referred someone to psych for suicidal thoughts. And seen several non-urgent sore throats etc .....

Of course they sometimes google. Of course - they honestly can't be expected to know everything - the skill is in picking up when it's serious and referring on. Many consultants don't refer on for things they find - they can't recognise things outside their speciality, whereas GPs have to be able to see the whole patient.

My own GP has never made any effort to find out about my rare neurological disability - only diagnosed 50 times a year in uk. My dh likewise had never heard of it (why should he?) but not long after the onset of my symptoms he took me to A&E (I'd started falling when I walked) and it was the right call. He says he'd have had any patient of his directly referred to a&e with the same symptoms!

You think you could just google yourself? My dh has trained for over 10 years to become a GP. Dr Google isn't that helpful if you don't have the training to read between the lines.

I love it when a GP is prepared to google in front of me.
It shows they dont have a God complex and would rather learn or clarify than blag.
It shows they are taking me seriously and not being patronising and dismissive.
I might be sceptical if they hadn't heard of a common ailment, but I would never expect my GP to have detailed knowledge of rare syndromes or new drugs.

I want my GP to say, hmmm, not my expertise, so ok, let's look into that.

It's a good thing.

Like others I have been pleased when a GP has said 'I'm not sure what this is, let's have a look'. The first time it happened GP with Google was unfortunately wrong (thought I had something worse than I did) but even so I found it refreshing and much better than guessing But OP I do understand it's a little disconcerting!

I'm another dr who has never heard of Anbesol. Most drs will have one favourite thing they prescribe for mouth ulcers and will not keep track of the hundreds of over the counter remedies.

I use google all the time but if you watch properly I am googling for specific information websites, guidelines or journal articles. Some complex things I purposefully don't remember as I would always look them up (specific website, but yes I go there using google) each time to ensure I am giving a correct answer. Not 'what is a vasectomy'

Binky, was your GP confident it was episcleritis rather than iritis?

Yabu. I've never heard of anbesol. It is the norm that they look up treatment protocol. Are you looking for things to complain about?

I once went to the GP with a rash on my arm. He totally refused to look at it and instead googled "rash" and asked me which of the images looked like my rash :/

I've accepted that IABU well sort of But I am really, genuinely surprised how many GPs on here have never heard of Anbesol. As far as I know there are only 2 over the counter treatments for mouth ulcers, certainly round here there are, Anbesol and Bonjela. As I said earlier - more than once, it wasn't that a GP would have to look something up, I don't expect them to know everything, but I did expect them to know fairly basic things. Like the time my DD was suspected of having Type 1 Diabetes and referred for a bloodtest a week later. 2 days later she was in A&E on a drip.

I regularly Google stuff related to my field (not medical) because things change. I imagine guidelines and policies change quite often in medicine - better to refer to a trusted, up to date online source than to rely solely on memory or a dated hard copy manual.

Another GP who's never heard of Anbesol here. Probably because I don't treat many mouth ulcers - most people just go to the chemist!

I cant believe anyone would go to the doctor with mouth ulcers (unless they had them for months and were riddled I guess, then a nurse would do - ours certainly deal with that sort of thing rather than the doctor) Surely cheaper to get something over the counter?

Google scholar is much better when looking for current medical info. It filters out the cuddly forums and self help sites.

Anbesol is a non prescription preparation so they may not have heard of it. Its not something I would use on mouth ulcers. I keep a tube of denture fixative for mouth ulcers it acts like a plaster in the mouth and covers the raw surface making eating more comfortable. Hot salt water mouthwashes or peroxyl are very good for cleaning ulcers.

I went to A&E a few weeks back with some very scary eye symptoms. Basically out of the blue I had flashing lights then big blank spots to one side of my vision, I was half blind.

So went to A&E and was seen pretty quick. Ended up being directed to the out of hours GP which is in the same place as A&E.

The GP asked me a few questions then pulled up Wikipedia and typed in...I can't even remember...I think it was 'optical migrane'.

He found the entry he was looking for and said 'Yes, yes I think this meets your symptoms' and read out a few of the causes to me...from Wiki!

I was a bit 'WTAF' - Wikipedia? That's how you're diagnosing me?

Anbesol is an over the counter remedy for mouth ulcers - there are many many more options than just this and Bonjela. Hopefully most people with mild mouth ulcers have the sense not to see their GP about it?

If you had serious persistent ulcers a dr would be recommending something else. This I can do. Which over the counter remedy you try first I don't really care but I can give the people with a serious problem some proper advice (ie not Anbesol).

Me neither on anbesol, never heard of it, I have always liked GPS and other doctors who look up unusual symptoms or conditions.
I am a nurse and I use google all the time but like my GP colleagues I tend to be looking for certain sites.
I tried bookmarking in the early days bit you end up with so many and subsets of subsets it is quicker to google.
I have more confidence in gps who look up stuff.
When I do it I always direct the screen to the patient So I can explain what it all means.

I took my son to see a GP to ask for a dietician referral for suspected lactose intolerance/dairy allergy. He googled lactose intolerance, referred to him as she throughout the appointment and told me to try giving him yoghurt so he would still get enough calcium. I was gobsmacked. My mum gives better advice and that's saying something.