Forty-six Web sites were identified. Nine sites based outside of the United States did not require a prescription or physician consultation. Quality of physician consultation, physician qualifications and specialty, and geographic location were unknown. The Internet may expand patient access to health-related services but at overall increased cost. In addition, the quality of physician Internet care is uncertain, and potential for serious abuse exists.
Patients can easily provide incorrect or false information to obtain medications.
Furthermore, conflict of interest exists for Web-based firms because they profit from selling medications and physician consultations. Ann Intern Med. The Internet is increasingly used to provide information to and facilitate interaction among patient, practitioner, payer, and researcher. This includes Internet visits to physicians and nurses, specialist consultations and second opinions, and myriad Web sites that provide information on treatment alternatives. Investigators are exploring uses of the Internet in population-based health and medical care research.