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 think the clue is in their job title, "General Practitioner".
Also, where they used to have to look up things in a book, now they use the internet like most people.
I know that sometimes you feel they should know the more general/common ailments and medicine, but surely its good that they double check.
My dhs gp asked him to provide details of his illness as he had never heard of it, fair enough as it is a rare condition and not really identified in this country.

Your GP may not have been googling but may well have been checking the CCG's clinical pathway for eligibility and where to send him... and believe me these have really changed in the last year. As I am sure your husband is now aware this may well be done at another Surgery who specialise in minor ops rather than an hospital referral.

As to medicines, you will see on the desk of most GPs a copy of the BNF for them to refer to... frankly I would rather that they checked then relied on memory.

I'm a GP and I google all the time. Mainly because our stupid it system says I need to go out of the practice server which means I am no longer access my previously saved favorites. However, I choose my sources carefully to make sure I am checking the most up to date advice/evidence. (I was one of the top in my med school year with multiple awards and high scores in my postgrad exams - not blowing my own trumpet but we all do it).

That wasn't meant to sound twattish btw...and yes I've heard of anbesol. Our training will also have differed so we may have different areas we feel more comfortable with than others...

My doc Googles all the time - usually to the NHS pages which are specifically for GPs to check up on things. They can't be expected to be experts on everything and know all of the brand names which generic drugs are sold under.

I'd much rather they Googled than guessed.

zombie thread

I'm a nurse & midwife & I google loads !! Not because I'm not knowledgeable but because I always want to make sure that I give totally up to date & accurate advice . So to answer to your question - yes , it's absolutely fine that your GP looks things up !!! Also you can in no way be exactly sure what they're looking up - I google the correct spelling for some things so I write it in the notes correctly :) !!

If you are genuinely worried or curious just look his GMC up online... you can find the register on Google 😉

Not a medical doctor, but I work in a multi disciplinary team of medics, scientists, etc etc and we are spread across different countries...

We use google loads. For all sorts of stuff. Patient tells us they are taking a drug, we've never heard of the brand name because it's only sold under that in Lithuania - quick google on a website we know is validated and accurate, basically a pan European drug registry will tell us what it is.
Patient taking two drugs - quick check for side effects.
The number of drug interactions is mind boggling. You can't remember them all and it's not safe to do so because they get updated all the time ditto stiff like new studies. New drugs, etc etc.
The world of medicine and science is updating constantly. Things have changed since a doc got their qualifications- knowing when to look stuff up is a good thing.,

And GPS are generalists. They also need to be good diagnosticians. Having all that info at your fingertips helps you.

So yes, yabu a bit.

Ffs, this thread is from 2013.