[Professionally adequate health care on the Internet].
BACKGROUND
The Internet is a growing and important source of a multitude of health-related services, the majority of which are information services. New kinds of services are, however, being established, on which the users are patients and the providers are health care professionals.


METHODS
Health-related websites are considered from a legal point of view, especially in relation to the legal term of "health care" and the requirements in Norwegian legislation concerning adequate services from the health care professions.


RESULTS
Health-related websites need to be categorised for the purpose of considerations of when to apply the health care legislation and how the requirements in this legislation can be applied in practice.


CONCLUSIONS
We shall soon see that the increasing demand for and use of various health-related websites on the Internet will lead to more services being offered. This is an interesting trend, but quality assurance will require that it be clarified what status they have under the legislation.
Christiansen
Ellen K
EK
Nasjonalt senter for telemedisin, Universitetssykehuset Nord-Norge, Tromsø. ellen.christiansen@telemed.no
Nohr
Leif Erik
LE
D016494:Computer Security / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D003219:Confidentiality / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D006266:Health Education / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D009664:Norway; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000592:standards; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000592:standards