Teenagers take embarrassing ailments to Second Life doctors

Spanish health authorities have launched a virtual portal through the Second Life Web site designed to help young people too embarrassed to speak to a doctor about potentially embarrassing problems, such as addiction or sexually transmitted diseases. Real doctors will log on and offer advice to their anonymous patients, and both will see an image of a consulting room with a doctor and a typical patient. The authorities said the idea started as a way to connect health professionals and adolescents and to give internet users a reliable space to get health advice.