Say you've got a strange pain in your back or a small (but embarrassing) rash? Worried it might be a symptom of a bigger problem, you go online to see if you can root out some information on what you may or may not have. You find a seemingly helpful little online form into which you plug in a description of your symptoms and you discover you have.... scurvy!

The story

According to this USA Today article, more and more people are going to the Net for medical information and advice. Six million Americans a day are going to the Web instead of their doctor, claims a study by the Pew Internet and American Life Project mentioned in the article. Online behavior research firm Harris Interactive has dubbed these searchers "cyberchondriacs" while the Pew report gives them the kinder name "health-seekers."

Our question

As we know, the Web is not always the most trustworthy source of solid information. Acting on faulty medical advice could have results as minor as worrying over something that was nothing, but it could also have potentially very dangerous consequences. We want to know what you think about the reliability of online medical advice and if you've ever acted on false medical advice you found on the Net.

Post your opinion in the Talkback section below the poll and join fellow fans on the message boards.