However, he said for those who already had a diagnosis, the internet could be a good place to find out more information on a condition - provided the patient looked at safe sites.
"If you already have a diagnosis it's a fantastic resource."
Rather than just Googling conditions, Dr Pert recommended people search through the Health on the Net Foundation website - which only used accredited linksto provide information people knew was safe.
"You can search within it as you would Google but it only takes you to accredited health sites."
He said in those cases using the internet was safe and "very, very useful".
"If you have a long term health problem the more you know and more information the better."
Dr Pert said modern medicine was about empowering people. He said those with rarer conditions also found that by turning to safe internet sites they could get peer support.
It wasn't just a problem faced by general practitioners.
Lakes District Health Board consultant anaesthetic and clinical director of quality Dr Ulrike Buehner said it was "very common" and they also found people Googled for more information and different treatments once diagnosed.
She said while researching health issues on the internet could be a way of enhancing discussion between patients and health care professionals, the problem was it contained incorrect information.
"A lay person may be overwhelmed by all the information on the internet and find it hard to understand and interpret the detail of information provided."
It could lead to raised expectations like treatment options which weren't available or affordable in New Zealand.
Dr Buehner said it could also "unnecessarily frighten" people.
Anyone with any health issue should always see their GP for medical advice, Dr Buehner said.
