What's Behind Medical Web Sites, and How Can It Hurt YOU!

Medical web sites on the Internet: Every day millions of people consult them to learn about various diseases, other health problems, drugs and other treatments, etc.  But how good are they? How much misinformation do they present?

Are medical web sites honest, or do their commercial sponsors sometimes have hidden agendas -- corporate ties which may affect the information they present and the way they present it?

Are medical web sites fair and accurate and, most importantly, are they up to date?  The answer is that many medical web sites are not necessarily current, and their failure to disclose new research and other developments could put your health -- and even your life -- at risk.

ASH has already warned readers -- on another page on this web site -- about how many popular medical web sites invade the privacy of visitors -- ASH DOESN'T.  To learn more, click here: MedSites Privacy Alert

Now there's new information about how some medical web sites are less up-to-date than others, and how their commercial entanglements and contractual arrangements may distort the news and information they present.  You can learn more by clicking on the link at the bottom of this page.

You will learn what companies are behind each web site, and what the strengths and weaknesses of these various web sites are.  You are likely to be surprised by what you learn.

Check out some of your favorite sites, and learn about some you may not have visited.  Would you like to know more about these well-known sites -- for example, who's behind them and what are their motives:

WebMD.com;   AmericasDoctor.com;   CBSHealthWatch.com;   DrKoop.com;
HealthAtoZ.com;   HealthCentral.com;   DiscoveryHealth.com;   WebMed.com;

This information is provided, as a public service, by Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), a 36-year old legal-action charitable organization entirely supported by tax-deductible contributions,

This document can be downloaded by clicking on the link below.

Please note, however, that this information is available only to member-supporters of Action on Smoking and Health (ASH).  To find out how you can become a member of ASH on line, and to obtain access to this and other valuable information for members as well as several special gifts, please click here to learn the many benefits of joining ASH on-line.

Once you join -- which you can do conveniently online -- you will receive by e-mail the user name and password you need to unlock this valuable information.  Your other gifts will be sent to you by mail.

Please don't hesitate.  Your contribution to join ASH is fully tax deductible.

Once you have become a member of  ASH  you can access the information by  clicking on the following link:
Inside and Behind Medical Web Sites
 
 

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This information is presented as a public service by:

Action on Smoking and Health (ASH)
2013 H Street NW / Washington, DC 20006 / (202) 659-4310
A national nonprofit, scientific and educational organization founded in 1967.
All donations are fully tax deductible.

Material on this page may be freely reproduced, distributed, and circulated
with attribution given to Action on Smoking and Health.

Dedicated to Mr. and Mrs. Warren Wells