I wonder who thought up that term?
I do agree that getting information/doing HW is different than the random reading of the publics' experiences with specific procedures or diseases. But, it's really hard to get this information, when you are the average consumer. When I was sick a few years ago, it was very hard for me to stay off the web, so I did it cold turkey. I tend to err on the side of conservatism with medical stuff, but I haven't been faced with any decisions about surgery, etc. When my rheumo wrote me a scrip for Lyrica a few years ago, I tore it up in front of him. I really liked him and had a good relationship with him, but it was like he did it reflexively. He was kind, but didn't quite get me. I knew this when he told me to "ride 5 miles instead of 50." I got what he meant, but I had to take his advice and make it my own. I only knew Lyrica caused weight gain, and that was one side effect I wouldn't accept. The Prolia injections I took for osteoporosis for 4 years came with a host of bad possible things, but I decided to take the risk, given my lifestyle and family history. It worked, so I guess I'm lucky.