On 06/01/11 7:55 AM, Fred Bauder wrote:
There's a huge difference between "consulted Wikipedia on any matter in their professional arena" and "relied exclusively on Wikipedia for a medical matter about a patient's treatment".
A doctor might well use it as a regular place (one of several) to double check something, especially obscure areas, or when writing a professional letter (eg to a professional magazine or colleague)
FT2
Sounds good, but I think that is probably at variance with human nature. Doctors generally are behind on their reading, what they are theoretically responsible for being up to date on is beyond human capacity. They have no time to leisurely research relatively simple matters in medical journals; thus they rely on Wikipedia as it is an effective method to get basic information.
The pharmaceutical reps who parade through doctors' offices are well aware of the time shortage.
They are smart and practical; a characteristic they share with the typical student, who will also fail to cite Wikipedia as a source if questioned closely by authority.
Not relying on Wikipedia is a form of political correctness. Political correctness trumps accuracy.
Ec