Internet and social media should not serve as your doctor: Dr Nirmala Rajagopalan

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Last Updated on May 17, 2023 by Shabnam Sengupta

Dr Nirmala Rajagopalan is a general physician with a fellowship in HIV Medicine from Christian Medical College, Vellore, India. She previously worked with an NGO called Freedom Foundation where she served as Program Manager for HIV/AIDS initiatives and co-investigator on a study with Drexel University. Dr Rajagopalan’s personal health struggles led her to become a Certified Ketogenic Nutrition Specialist and Basic Nutrition certified from the American Nutrition Association. In 2011, she started her private practice with the goal of providing accessible and affordable primary medical care to her community in Bengaluru, India.

What is the best thing you enjoy about treating patients?

One of the things I find most rewarding in my work with patients is when they come back to me with positive feedback. It brings me great joy to hear that they are feeling significantly better or experiencing unexpected improvements in their health.

When is a patient easy to treat? 

When a patient is actually seeking help and they are willing to trust the doctor’s instincts and treatment, it is easy to treat them. They may have questions and apprehensions which arise from their health concerns, but the questions are valid. When the doctor is able to answer them honestly based on experience, then the patient also has more confidence to go forward with the treatment.

When is a patient difficult to treat?

Patients can be challenging to treat in today’s age of easy access to information through Google and WhatsApp. Those with chronic illnesses often research extensively before coming to the doctor. Some patients may be apprehensive about taking medication or prefer to try out new remedies. There are also patients who have an aversion to doctors and hospitals and may only be visiting at the urging of family or friends. Establishing trust and breaking through any barriers can be difficult, as can addressing the concerns of patients who have seen multiple doctors without success.

How helpful is it to the treatment course, if the patient is knowledgeable about the treatment procedure, benefits, risks etc.?

It is very helpful. Having accurate information about the treatment facilitates the doctor’s interaction with the patient, as it enables the patient to form realistic expectations.

How can a patient improve their knowledge about the treatment procedure?

There are reliable sources of information online where the information given is by doctors who are experts in their fields. However, patients should always discuss about the information they gather on the internet with the healthcare professional treating them.

How does medical misinformation act as a problem in the overall treatment procedure?

Medical misinformation is dangerous. In the early years of my medical practice, I used to see HIV patients going for natural remedies or traditional medicine in the belief that they would be cured. They would stop allopathic treatment and often times they would return with a worsening of their condition. This used to happen despite all the counselling and treatment education that we would provide them with. Now, I work mainly with nutrition coaching. I see clients who browse the internet for remedies that promise a cure for diabetes or arthritis, etc. They then try them out and then feel miserable when these therapies don’t work. There are also patients who halve the dose of blood pressure medication on their own, which eventually leads to the increase in their blood pressure levels. Such things can prove to be extremely dangerous for people.

A few advice that you always give to your patients… 

I would like to tell a few simple things. Don’t do something based on the information you receive from random sources on social media platforms. Always check with your doctor. If you come across any information on the internet, go back and see if there are scientific reports backing the same.

Disclaimer: Medical Science is an ever evolving field. We strive to keep this page updated. In case you notice any discrepancy in the content, please inform us at [email protected]. You can futher read our Correction Policy here. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment because of something you have read on or accessed through this website or it's social media channels. Read our Full Disclaimer Here for further information.

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Last Updated on May 17, 2023 by Shabnam Sengupta

Disclaimer: Medical Science is an ever evolving field. We strive to keep this page updated. In case you notice any discrepancy in the content, please inform us at [email protected]. You can futher read our Correction Policy here. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment because of something you have read on or accessed through this website or it's social media channels. Read our Full Disclaimer Here for further information.

Last Updated on May 17, 2023 by Shabnam Sengupta

Disclaimer: Medical Science is an ever evolving field. We strive to keep this page updated. In case you notice any discrepancy in the content, please inform us at [email protected]. You can futher read our Correction Policy here. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment because of something you have read on or accessed through this website or it's social media channels. Read our Full Disclaimer Here for further information.

Last Updated on May 17, 2023 by Shabnam Sengupta

Disclaimer: Medical Science is an ever evolving field. We strive to keep this page updated. In case you notice any discrepancy in the content, please inform us at [email protected]. You can futher read our Correction Policy here. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment because of something you have read on or accessed through this website or it's social media channels. Read our Full Disclaimer Here for further information.

Last Updated on May 17, 2023 by Shabnam Sengupta

Disclaimer: Medical Science is an ever evolving field. We strive to keep this page updated. In case you notice any discrepancy in the content, please inform us at [email protected]. You can futher read our Correction Policy here. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment because of something you have read on or accessed through this website or it's social media channels. Read our Full Disclaimer Here for further information.

Last Updated on May 17, 2023 by Shabnam Sengupta

Disclaimer: Medical Science is an ever evolving field. We strive to keep this page updated. In case you notice any discrepancy in the content, please inform us at [email protected]. You can futher read our Correction Policy here. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment because of something you have read on or accessed through this website or it's social media channels. Read our Full Disclaimer Here for further information.

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Last Updated on May 17, 2023 by Shabnam Sengupta

Disclaimer: Medical Science is an ever evolving field. We strive to keep this page updated. In case you notice any discrepancy in the content, please inform us at [email protected]. You can futher read our Correction Policy here. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment because of something you have read on or accessed through this website or it's social media channels. Read our Full Disclaimer Here for further information.

Last Updated on May 17, 2023 by Shabnam Sengupta

Disclaimer: Medical Science is an ever evolving field. We strive to keep this page updated. In case you notice any discrepancy in the content, please inform us at [email protected]. You can futher read our Correction Policy here. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment because of something you have read on or accessed through this website or it's social media channels. Read our Full Disclaimer Here for further information.

Last Updated on May 17, 2023 by Shabnam Sengupta

Disclaimer: Medical Science is an ever evolving field. We strive to keep this page updated. In case you notice any discrepancy in the content, please inform us at [email protected]. You can futher read our Correction Policy here. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment because of something you have read on or accessed through this website or it's social media channels. Read our Full Disclaimer Here for further information.

Last Updated on May 17, 2023 by Shabnam Sengupta

Disclaimer: Medical Science is an ever evolving field. We strive to keep this page updated. In case you notice any discrepancy in the content, please inform us at [email protected]. You can futher read our Correction Policy here. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment because of something you have read on or accessed through this website or it's social media channels. Read our Full Disclaimer Here for further information.

Last Updated on May 17, 2023 by Shabnam Sengupta

Disclaimer: Medical Science is an ever evolving field. We strive to keep this page updated. In case you notice any discrepancy in the content, please inform us at [email protected]. You can futher read our Correction Policy here. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment because of something you have read on or accessed through this website or it's social media channels. Read our Full Disclaimer Here for further information.

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Urmimala Sengupta
Urmimala Sengupta
A mass comm. graduate, she is a young aspirant who has keen interest in learning everything about digital media. She handles social media monitoring and Bengali content division at THIP.
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