Jerry Avorn talks about the "Sting of Ignorance", using an encounter with a jellyfish, as an example to show the wide gap between the medical facts available and their dissemination to and knowledge of, by the laity.
This is so true and it would really be of help if there are easy methods of communication available. I don't agree entirely with the rest of the issues that Mr. Avorn talks about. Its not as if straight-forward data is easily available even to experts in their particular fields - where it is (e.g. acute trauma, emergencies), fine...but in many other chronic conditions, there are so many grey areas.
The use of the Internet has helped the lay public get access to information, but they usually have no clue of what to do what that information.
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