I have had the opposite experience. I have had professionals find and treat problems in weeks after wasting years using books and the internet. I am not saying it is impossible, but find good info on the internet, but it has its limits.

There's gotta be errors on both sides, now the question is if we are assessing their risks properly or not. Maybe giving a shot to a low risk thing you read on the internet is worth a try, and maybe booking a doctor visit and getting examined will be worth the time and money.

It'd be nice to have this decision tree being built out in the open, ultimately everyone needs it.

Doctors are people doing a job just like anyone else. The old joke, 'what do you call someone who graduated last in their med school class? Doctor.' Just like software, there are good ones, bad ones, and average ones. By definition, most are average.

I know a few surgeons who are nerds about surgery like many on HN are about technology. But they are also the first ones to tell you not all doctors are the same.

Sure, and that ignores just how hard it is to get into medical school and go through residency

You comment about average overlooks the funnel to become a doctor/dentist. It is hard even to get in school.

I had to fight with numerous doctors to finally get treated for scabies despite having extremely severe symptoms and despite my partner at the time having scabies. My immune system was apparently good enough to keep it from being easily detected under a microscope, but lo and behold, I had complete symptom remission once the dermatologist I saw went ahead and prescribed an antiparasitic anyways.

> So, what is your job?

Grant the status of their profession to their opinions.

Even worse with lawyers. AI will never make a real difference in that field.