There was a woman once who had so many open sores in her mouth that she could hardly eat. She also had a large rash on her face in the shape of a butterfly, and resembled a reddened raccoon. To top it all off, it hurt to pee. So she consulted the internet, where she found pages and pages of medical information. It wasn't long afterwards that she had checked into the hospital and diagnosed herself with Behcet's disease. Ever heard of it?

I was a medical student back then and spent several hours in the library learning about Behcet's disease. I respected this patient - she seemed to have done everything right, taking an active role in her own care, learning about disease, sharing this information with her physicians. But right or wrong, no one in the hospital respected her or her self-proclaimed diagnosis.

Patients these days are taking a much more active role in their own healthcare. As an example, the internet has revolutionized access to medical information so that people like you and me can learn about any health issue more than ever before. The trick is using this information wisely in conjunction with your doctor - not as a substitute for your doctor.

I graduated from medical school, but I am not a physician. My goal is not to try to teach medicine; you will not find information here on how to treat sinusitis or whether home births are really OK. The purpose of Think Like A Doctor is to help healthcare consumers like you become even better patients by improving the relationship with your physician. The best way to do this is by thinking like your doctor.

Think Like A Doctor contains numerous chapters on topics ranging from the physical exam to drugs to certain diseases, such as cancer. With each chapter, I share a few of my own experiences. With each chapter, you will have the opportunity to share experiences or thoughts of your own. I look forward to learning from them!

To your health,

T. C. Brady