Dear Patient,

Some books, articles and “online” information are reliable, but many are not.  You need to distinguish what is helpful from what is harmful.  It is important to be aware that many of the online health services were created by companies whose main goal is to make money.  Don’t be duped by something that serves only as an advertisement.

Next time you log on to your favorite health care site, look for the sponsor and the advertisers.  Then consider whether the information is in your best interest, or whether it is designed to sell you something.  If you would like, we can point you to sites where the health care information is reviewed by competent medical professionals.

We suggest the following five criteria to evaluate the sites you visit.  They were developed by George D. Lundberg, M.D., former editor of the Journal of the American Medical Association, and health journalist William M. Silberg.  Consider any online information unreliable unless you can answer these questions:

• Who wrote what you are reading?  The site should contain the name of a real person.
• Where does that person work?  A university?  A Web business?  A product manufacturer?  Can you easily find that information on the site?
• Was the information created for the web site?  If not is there clear attribution showing where the information originated?
• Who owns the site and who pays for it?  The source of money and ownership should be clearly identified.
• Can you tell when the article itself was posted, whether it has been updated, and when?

Happy and responsible “Web” surfing!!

Compliments of your physicians and staff at Western New York Urology Associates