Why does 99.9% of "health" questions get a "see a doctor" answer?

Question

Why have so many categories for questions when you get answers like that. Ask about most things (e.g., automotive to zoology) and "contact an expert" answer. Only about 20% of categories (e.g., elections, politics) will you possibly get some intelligent response. Why not change this category thing?) Note: not putting in normal category because the answer would be refer to "community guidelines" blah blah blah...

Answer 1

Because otherwise Doctors etc. would be out of a job, everyone would simply refer to Yahoo answers.

Answer 2

Because:

1 - those questions should not be asked here

2 - there are no (or very few) doctors handing out advise on YA

Answer 3

What Phil said.

Answer 4

Here is the best answer I can come up with:

Someone comes here and posts this:

I have had a headache for 2 days, what can I do to make it go away?

The simple answer:

Take some freaking aspirin. Duh.

The more complicated answer:

A headache that lasts two days can mean you are having a massive stroke and could die if you don't take your butt to a doctor ASAP.  You haven't given enough information for me to discern whether you are hungover (gives people a headache), dehydrated (gives people a headache) having caffeine withdrawal (gives people a headache) or you have a leaking aneurysm in your brain that will kill you in 48 hours without emergency brain surgery (also gives people a headache), or meningitis, which can also kill you if you don't see a doctor.

So, it's likely that you need to take an aspirin, drink some water, have a cup of coffee or quit drinking too much beer BUT the reality is in some small percentage of people, they are in an emergency situation.  You could literally be killing them if you don't suggest seeing a doctor.

You can only recommend.  What they do with the information is up to them.  In some situations it would be foolish not to recommend seeing a doctor.

Answer 5

Because the average person can;t provide enough details and information to properly decipher what is wrong with them without seeing them in person. Likewise, differential diagnosis should be left to physicians anyway. After all, that is their forte.