Why Smart Phones Are Not the Same As Smart Doctors And Can Be Dangerous?

Smart phones misdiagnose skin cancer

Smart phones seem able to do everything: accounting, banking, camera, and now diagnosing medical conditions. There are several smart phone apps which claim to be able to diagnose skin cancer. Unfortunately, a recent study has shown that these apps may not be accurate and may in fact be dangerous. The smart phone skin cancer apps work by using an algorithm which on image analysis. The best of these apps was able to accurately diagnose skin cancer 30% of the time. The danger in such an app is that patient’s can get lulled into a false sense of security and avoid seeing the doctor.

So if you are using a medical app, know that you are using it for supplemental information and not to replace your doctor.