The only way to get a fair perspective of patients' views is to go directly to the source. Is it skewed to survey only the patients who are active in social media? Perhaps slightly, but those patients who are active in social media are THE VOICE for the masses in many ways.

Most often, those who engage in social media, as health activists, health advocates and patient rights advocates are consumers themselves and have a reliable base of involvement with other consumers and patients. It is of the utmost importance though, to quantify what role and experience the social media contact plays in the field.

I do believe, from my personal experience, that the majority of those speaking out as activists have a good sense of the patient's voice. Typically, as activists, we are active in communities where patients express their concerns, fears, complaints and challenges. Often we are involved in these communities as not only a faciliator/contributor of some kind but also as a patient/consumer. It is my belief that being in the shoes of the patient is what creates passionate and well-informed activists, both online and off. As a developer of social media content, and also as a patient, it is important to note that I am not affiliated with any brand or company trying to promote their product. This is what gives me the foundation for being a fair representative of "the patient".

It is my opinion that giving voices such as mine the opportunity to share opinions and insights is of vital importance to shedding light on the patient's perspective.