The doctors who write the “Ask the Doctors” column at UCLA Health addressed a reader’s question about why people reach out to them instead of asking their own physicians. The reader expressed concern that publishing these questions might make individuals appear uninformed for not consulting their personal doctors first.
In response, the columnists explained that they receive a wide variety of questions from readers through email and mail, many of which are longer and more detailed than what can be published. “The result is that both the content and the length of the questions we publish are shaped by those limitations,” they wrote.
They clarified that their mission is twofold: to answer specific questions and to provide general health information to all readers. “And yes, the letter writers are doubtless already aware of some of the information we are providing. However, we can’t assume a general audience will be familiar with a specific medical issue someone is asking about. To address that, we always begin with an overview. (Sometimes this even includes historical context, which we have been happy to learn readers find interesting.) We then gradually work our way down to the granular medical detail that prompted the letter.”
The doctors noted that many readers include detailed narratives about their experiences, symptoms, and diagnoses when seeking advice. Some ask broad questions while others seek highly specific details related to their health concerns. To make responses useful for everyone, they often start with broader context before addressing individual issues.
Access to healthcare also influences why some people write in for advice. The columnists said some readers live in areas with limited medical resources or face long waits for appointments with specialists. Others may feel rushed during doctor visits or hesitant to admit confusion about medical explanations.
“Based on the questions we receive, we have come to learn that the columns are sometimes helping to fill that gap,” they stated.
When preparing each column, they aim to retain as much original language from letters as possible but edit submissions for space, clarity, and privacy reasons. They emphasized it is never their intention “to make someone who has taken the time to write to us seem foolish.” They added: “We are regularly moved by the trust our readers exhibit in asking for our help, and by the kindness they so often show us.”
Readers interested in submitting questions can contact Ask the Doctors via email or mail at UCLA Health Sciences Media Relations in Los Angeles.
For those seeking care directly from UCLA Health providers—including virtual or in-person appointments—online booking options are available through their website: https://www.uclahealth.org/appointments/request-appointment.
