Patient empowerment and the asymmetry of knowledge

eHealth consumers know more, expect more and demand more. The Inteernet has the potential of being a major influence on them by opening up vast opportunities for information transparency and access and the sharing of information which is essential to healthcare practice. But, these vast opportunities also pose numerous obstacles, such as the lack of common terminology or terminology standardization, the uncertain quality and reliability of the information on the Internet, the public's health literacy and the digital divide. A gradual and progressive shift from exclusive to shared knowledge and responsibility can be achieved by patient/physician collaboration.