Doctors say that the arrival of AI and lack of access to primary care is feeding a growing trend among people trying to diagnose and treat online.
They say that risks include trying the measures posted on social media that are unsafe, delay in demanding legitimate medical treatment and financially exploited by paying for things that do not work.
In a media briefing organized by Ontario Medical Association, an endocrinologist, a cancer specialist and a psychiatrist all said that they often look online in their respective fields.
Psychiatrist Dr. Valerie Primy says that one of the most common trends is an online test that claims that they can diagnose attention deficit activity disorder, or ADHD.
Doctors urge all people to ask a health care provider what they watch online, but admit that it can be difficult to do with a shortage of family physicians.
Ontario Medical Association says other ways to reach reliable health knowledge include visiting the walk-in clinic or checking websites of established medical institutions and associations.
They say that online research with reliable sources can be positive and social media may be a useful way to get support support.