“That's very nice, but will it get me pregnant?”

I have to confess, I didn't understand the question at the time. A year later, I am starting to. I was an eager new general practitioner and member of a research team investigating how the internet might influence patients' use of primary care, and we had just begun offering free internet access at our deprived inner city practice. I had filled the waiting room with posters advertising the service, and a member of staff was on hand to guide newcomers through the web. With our new PC and a cup of coffee, we would help …