Patient Photos to GPs: A Diagnostic Dilemma

Patients are increasingly sending photographs of symptoms, such as rashes or swollen ankles, to general practitioners (GPs) before appointments. This practice has become a common trend in general practice worldwide.

GP Dr. Rebecca Payne and colleagues assert that smartphone cameras act as uncalibrated diagnostic tools, presenting a risk of misdiagnosis for patients.

However, authors publishing in The Lancet Primary Care and The Conversation, including Welsh doctors, indicate that smartphone cameras may not be appropriate for medical diagnostic purposes. These experts, including GP Dr. Rebecca Payne and colleagues, assert that these cameras act as uncalibrated diagnostic tools. This situation presents a risk of misdiagnosis for patients.