Anytime I feel like there may be something wrong with me, I consult the symptom tracker on WebMD. Do I then go into my doctor and tell them that I have x, y, or z? No. I go in there and present my symptoms to my doctor and get their expert opinion and see whether it coincides with what I read online. I don't try and steer them in any particular direction. But when the doctor decides that I should be tested for z, I can have an intelligent conversation with him about what that actually means, and whether or not that is a useful course of action for me. Should these sites disappear because of hypochondriacs? No. They will just go to the library and check out books to self-diagnose their crazy diseases. You can't fix that sort of mental disorder by hiding information from people. Does it cause frustration for doctors? Absolutely. But the doctors should educate their patients on the appropriate use for these tools. None of the doctors I know have ever had a discussion with their patients about online medical resources. They just go home and huff and puff to their friends and family how they have to fight with WebMD empowered patients.