EDIT: please, if you don’t agree with the arguments in the video, come in and discuss, don’t just downvote the thread.
I found this video with many arguments supporting self-diagnosis validity and wanted to share.
Main point may be that there is no valid reason to look for a self-diangosis than the fact of being autistic, and needing support for that. At least until there will be equitable access to medical care, self-diagnosis is the only way for people to understand themself and understand the support they may need in their life.
But, there is much more in the video, take a look at it by yourself!
I think your argument is totally reasonable.
I think your comparison fits, too, but not all flues are the same: for the ones that are light you can handle them with self medication (paracetamol for the fever mainly), and/or you can wait to see if in a few days the symptoms get better or worse, and then you contact a doctor. Does it make sense?
and if it get worsewhat do you do ? Yep you go to the doctor. I’ve never said self diagnosis is a devilish act, it is extremely useful to know wether an assessment could be interesting. Now I’d go further about self medicating a flue. Generally people will call that : “a cold”. A generic, non-scientific term. By treating the fever you are not treating the flu but the symptoms, you don’t actually know wether it’s the flu. Lastly, if the “flu” don’t go away, you are going to need a more specific treatment, and therefore go to the doctor because the treatment you need is very specific to the disease you actually have. Same applies for any kind of autism, if you need specific care, technique to manage your emotions or things like that, you are going to need to know what is your actual diagnosis and a doctor expertise to help you in finding the right strategies.
Agreed
I think this is what defines the validity and boundaries of self-diagnosis.
EDIT: one additional thing: availability of specific care and medical diagnosis force the boudaries a bit out.