Patients should never be put in a place where they would need to diagnose themselves prior to coming to the Emergency Department.  Expecting a patient to be able to tell the difference between a benign condition and potentially life threatening condition prior to seeking medical care is dangerous and unethical.  For example; Bell's palsy is very similar to an acute stroke.  Strep throat can be mistaken for a retropharyngeal abscess.  Anal fissures can be mistaken by a layperson for Fournier's gangrene.  These are just a few of the many, many examples why expecting a layperson to diagnose themselves rather than seeking emergent medical care can be dangerous and life threatening.