[sithu]

The reality is that there is already, and will always be, wide variation in quality between providers and institutions. No one should expect perfection from an online service, or anywhere for that matter.

It is this kind of thinking, the fear of missing that 0.01% chance of something serious, the fear of colleagues low opinions, the fear of lawyers and persecution- that perpetuates the current culture of doing as much as possible regardless of probability, adverse events or complications of those actions. You can't cough in an ER these days without getting radiated. You can't be a little short of breath without getting a chest CT. Surely there is a line to draw.

I agree with your overall premise that there should be a minimum quality level and regulations on any service. But I am not convinced that an online doctor (or even Watson) would be any more of a 'quack' than seeing a nurse practitioner/PA in a tiny clinic in suburbia.