Posted by Willful on March 6, 2014, at 22:15:53
In reply to Re: sad and disheartening » Dr. Bob, posted by Phillipa on March 6, 2014, at 17:48:59
but the fact that you seem to not want to hear is that mammograms were recommended once a year because it was originally hoped that that would save lives.
However as science advances, new realizations are arrived at. One is that frequent such as yearly mammograms do not save lives. This has become clearer from some recent large scale studies done. The main effect of yearly exams is to produce more false positive results which lead to people being given more invasive tests, and sometimes unnecessary surgery.--
I know you're capable of understanding this concept phillipa, so I wonder why you don't seem to acknowledge it. Did you even read my the post in which I tried to explain the rationales for the new guidelines that you cited?
Sometimes more treatment and testing is worse treatment and testing--as in the case for mammograms, and many others. The problem of false positive results (results tht suggest, incorrectly that a problem exists) was not recognized at first-- but not doctors see how harmful this can be.
Sedating elderly people is not by any means a good thing-- nor is providing food for those who won't eat, or who won't gain weight even if they do eat it, as with those in some stages of wasting.
Can't you understand that these recommendations actually protect patients from bad treatments or testing?
Why does it have to suggest that those for whom treatment is appropriate will not be treated? Just because it saves money, does not make it a bad thing. Sometimes NOT testing saves money-- but it also protects patients.
Emsam.
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poster:Willful
thread:1061722
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20140214/msgs/1061975.html