> A few patients may have slightly better information in one dimension of their condition than a GP. Presuming otherwise is foolhardy arrogance that misses the profound interconnectedness and subtle complexity of body systems.
This is precisely why a good doctor-patient is so valuable. Some (maybe not often, but at least some) patients _will_ know about the specifics of their condition better than a GP (e.g. if they have a scientific background and prepared to do sufficient reading), but the GP will be able to put that into a broader context of which someone focused on the specifics (and non-objective) will likely be unaware.
FWIW, my GP has said on at least one occasion "I'm considering drug X because of blood results Y etc. Go and do the reading on it and let me know next time if you want to try it; you'll have a deeper and more recent understanding of the potential benefits/side-effects than me" (IIRC it was the addition of levothyroxine to counter fluctuating fT4 levels, whilst accounting for any drug-drug interactions with current medications).
This is precisely why a good doctor-patient is so valuable. Some (maybe not often, but at least some) patients _will_ know about the specifics of their condition better than a GP (e.g. if they have a scientific background and prepared to do sufficient reading), but the GP will be able to put that into a broader context of which someone focused on the specifics (and non-objective) will likely be unaware.
FWIW, my GP has said on at least one occasion "I'm considering drug X because of blood results Y etc. Go and do the reading on it and let me know next time if you want to try it; you'll have a deeper and more recent understanding of the potential benefits/side-effects than me" (IIRC it was the addition of levothyroxine to counter fluctuating fT4 levels, whilst accounting for any drug-drug interactions with current medications).