The internet has much to offer, both in terms of help and harm.
Earlier this week, we told you about the owner of a recycling company in Knox that sold recalled glucose testing strips for diabetics on eBay instead of getting rid of them.
More than 100 people bought the strips. Nobody is hurt and they've all been returned to investigators, but should we buy medical devices online to begin with?
"That's not something I would buy on eBay to be honest with you," says Scott Wright at I Sold it on eBay in Granger. "I would buy that at a retail store. Just because, that's something for your health."
Wright has sold thousands of items on eBay, just under 12,000 to be exact, and he says the most important thing to do before buying is research the person selling to you.
"Most important thing on eBay is to buy from a reputable seller. You need to check the feedback rating," Wrights shares. "You can look back at what people have actually sold in the past and what the people thought of the transaction after it was completed."
Wright says you aren't allowed to sell expired or recalled items, as well as anything that can pierce your skin.
"It really is, buyer beware."
That was Dr. Tom Sweeney from St. Joseph Regional Medical Center. Sweeney warns against ordering medicine or medical devices online.
"Yes it is more expensive, but that's why we have the safest health care in the world because it's quality controlled. The internet doesn't allow that quality control to be there all the time," Sweeney explains. "A test strip for a diabetic...if it doesn't work or if its reading falsely high and you give yourself too much insulin, you're in a coma. You can die. Is it really worth it?
Sweeney says resources and clinics in the area offering less expensive health care is a better alternative than blindly ordering medicine or health devices online. He says even buying someone's used crutches can be dangerous if they don't fit you properly.
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