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Health
Taleen Lara Ashekian, Health Sciences Researcher & PhD Student, Simon Fraser University

The rise of ‘Dr. Google’: The risks of self-diagnosis and searching symptoms online

Google Health Care Internet Anxiety
Googling symptoms to self-diagnose is not the same as virtual health care. (Canva)

Virtual health care was adopted more widely during the COVID-19 pandemic, with many people accessing health-care providers remotely. However, easy and convenient access to technology means some people may choose to bypass health care and consult Dr. Google directly, with online self-diagnosis.

Here is a common scenario: picture someone sitting at home, when suddenly their head starts pounding, their eyes start to itch and their heart rate rises. They reach for their phone or laptop to quickly Google what can possibly be wrong.

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