You aren't the only one using search engines to diagnose your symptoms when you get sick (or have a bout of hypochondria).  The Wolters Kluwer Health survey asked members of the American Medical Association a simple question: "How often would you use the following sources [professional journals, colleagues, medical reference books, search engines, etc.] to gain information used to diagnose, treat and care for patients?"  It turns out that only professional journals and colleagues outrank search engines, and 46 percent of physicians cite Google and its ilk as frequent sources of information. Sorry drug reps, better luck next time:

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Alexander Abad-Santos