We all understand that early detection of a disease is very important in order to curtail the spread of the disease to a level where it might become fatal. But, does it give the physician a liberty to over prescribe the tests? It seems that doctors have started to look too hard for a disease in their patients without realizing that the benefit of prescribing unnecessary tests it not percolating to the patients.
Over testing is not only making people unhealthy in pursuit of health but is also depleting them financially. Most of the patients feel that these tests are benign in nature and cannot put them to risk but the overuse of imaging studies like CT scans, electrocardiograms, coronary angiographies, X-rays and many others may harm them. And to add to their sufferings, the exorbitant costs of these tests may hurt their pockets as well.
We understand that proper diagnosis triggers the treatment, but the use of imaging services is overshooting the actual requirement these days. As rightly stated by Dr Otis Brawley, CMO of American Cancer Society, “It’s medical Gluttony”.
With increasing awareness amongst the general public, they are becoming more skeptical about pursuing their treatment. The trust is certainly vanishing from their mind. Hence, steps should be taken to curb this problem now. An effort by The American College of Physicians (ACP), the largest U.S. medical specialty group, in rolling out guidelines for doctors to help them identify when patients should be screened for specific diseases and when they can be spared can help in achieving the aim. Involving, various regulatory authorities like FDA, NCRP, BARC, AERB etc and other eminent people in the field of medicine in setting protocols for the physicians and maintaining safety measures for the patients can help in controlling the irrational use of imaging.
Moreover, educating people to ask more queries to their physician about testing may save their family member from this unwarranted exposure to radiations.