From: kaminski@netcom.com (Peter Kaminski)
Subject: A Guide to Health-Related Usenet Newsgroups
Followup-To: poster
Supersedes: <1992Dec21.231120.9672@netcom.com>
Organization: The Information Deli - via Netcom / San Jose, California
Date: Tue, 5 Jan 1993 22:14:25 GMT

[Second draft of a periodically posted Guide.  Added alt.med.cfs and
sci.med.occupational, which were overlooked in the first draft.  Added
warnings about health-related messages on Usenet.  Expanded descriptions
of some of the main health groups.]

HEALTH-RELATED USENET NEWSGROUPS
--------------------------------

Here is a short guide to the health-related Usenet newsgroups to help
you find the most appropriate newsgroup to in which to discuss or ask
questions about health or medical matters.

Additions and corrections to this guide are welcome; send them to
<kaminski@netcom.com> or <71053.2155@compuserve.com>.

The short newsgroup descriptions are generally taken from the standard
Usenet newsgroup description file.  Longer descriptions are my own,
and may not accurately reflect the feelings of those who post to a
particular group.  When in doubt, read a group for a while to get the
feel of it.

Some thoughts about health-related messages on Usenet:

  Asking question or reading messages on Usenet cannot substitute for
  seeing your doctor.  If you are ill, or concerned about a medical
  problem, go to a doctor or other qualified, licensed health care
  practitioner.

  Remember that anyone can post anything to Usenet.  Messages are NOT
  checked or verified for accuracy or validity by ANYONE before being
  automatically distributed to readers.  Even messages which appear
  authoritative may include information that is outdated or completely
  wrong.  Take ALL Usenet messages with a grain of salt.

  Before taking any action because of a message posted to Usenet, verify
  the information in it with a reliable source, such as your personal
  doctor or other health care professional.

These newsgroups are specifically related to health or medicine:

  alt.med.cfs
     Discussion, information, and support for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
     and other possibly related topics: fibromyalgia, Lyme disease,
     environmental allergies.

  misc.health.alternative
     Alternative, complementary, and holistic health.  This newsgroup
     is for discussion and information about health care and therapies
     which are not generally accepted by conventional Western medicine,
     such as acupuncture, chiropractic, herbalism, homeopathy, etc.

  sci.med
     Scientific discussion and information about medicine and health.
     This is the main newsgroup for discussions about medicine and
     health, from a mostly conventional Western medical view.
     Technically speaking, this newsgroup is for scientific and
     professional discussions, but others are welcome as long as they
     stay more or less within the scientific paradigm.  General
     medical questions go here, but remember that any advice is for
     general informational purposes only, and cannot replace personal
     consultation with a qualified professional.

  sci.med.aids
     AIDS: treatment, prevention, HIV pathology/biology. (Moderated)

  sci.med.nutrition
     Physiological impacts of diet.  Topics include nutrition,
     vitamins, minerals, etc.

  sci.med.occupational
     Preventing, detecting & treating occupational injuries.  Topics
     include carpal tunnel syndrome, miscarriages, back problems, etc.

  talk.politics.medicine
     The politics and ethics involved with health care.

  Generally speaking, you should not crosspost between these groups.
  Each of these groups has a specific health-related focus, and they
  serve separate interests.  Pick the group most appropriate for your
  message, and post just to that group.


Other newsgroups: along with their main topics, certain specific
health-related topics are discussed in these groups as well.  It MAY be
okay to cross-post between these groups and ONE of the above specific
health groups.  Check the etiquette for each group before posting or
crossposting to these newsgroups.

  Newsgroup                   Health-related topics
  ---------                   ---------------------
  alt.psychoactives           Psychoactive drugs.
  alt.recovery                Recovery programs (e.g., AA, ACA, GA).
  alt.sex                     Human sexuality.
  alt.sexual.abuse.recovery   Helping others deal with traumatic experiences.
  alt.support                 Dealing with emotional situations & experiences.
  alt.support.big-folks       For big folks.
  alt.support.cancer          Support mechanism for those dealing with cancer.
  alt.support.diet            Seeking enlightenment through weight loss.
  alt.support.mult-sclerosis  Discussion group for people affected by MS.
  misc.emerg-services         Forum for paramedics and other first responders.
  misc.handicap               Disability issues.
  misc.kids                   Pediatrics, pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding.
  misc.fitness                Physical fitness, exercise, etc.
  rec.arts.bodyarts           Tattoos, piercing.
  rec.food.veg                Vegetarianism.
  sci.skeptic                 Skeptical discussion of fringe health care.

-- 
Peter Kaminski
kaminski@netcom.com
71053.2155@compuserve.com
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU