The rapid growth in the number of e-health sites and the volume of information and services available for the first time to consumers online is partly attributable to the limited regulation of the Internet. Well-informed consumers can now take personal responsibility for many of their healthcare decisions. On the other hand, there is no regulating body responsible for overseeing the provision of on-line health and medical information or services. However, a number of useful guidelines have been developed by a variety of interested organizations to assist consumers in making appropriate choices when seeking health information or looking to purchase medical goods and services online. These are designed to provide assurances regarding the quality of the sites that agree to adhere to the guidelines.
Some guidelines apply to a specific issue such as privacy or financial security.
Others address issues regarding information quality. Sites complying with the guidelines often display a logo indicating that the developer of the site has pledged to adhere to the principles. Patients and health providers can look for sites that comply with these codes as part of the process of selecting appropriate e-health sites. The guidelines are available for other sites but there is no compliance or certification process in place. It provides an important model for assisting consumers in choosing web sites using a recognized and trusted seal of approval.