Mclellan, ?Medicine.com?

Discussion questions: Mclellan (2004)

1. The first half of Mclellan's essay is tightly organized around the four ways in which the internet is changing the relationship between doctors and patients. The second half, which covers concerns and issues that remain to be solved, is more loosely organized. Is there still a logic to her organization? Is she still making use of topic sentences, transitions, and similar organizational strategies?

2. At many points Mclellan tries to present differing viewpoints on some issue, or to help us see various sides of some issue. Find two or three examples in which you think she does this especially well. What makes them successful?

3. Have you ever used the web to find medical information? If so, how did you evaluate the validity of the sources you found?

4. To what extent do you think the internet has the potential to improve or worsen medicine? If you were a patient, what electronic resources would you want your healthcare providers to offer? Which do you think would most improve the quality of your care or the relationship with your caregivers? If you were a physician, which of the concerns mentioned in this article would worry you most?