I’ve been fighting the over-testing of America for decades — but now, my solo performance is turning into a chorus as more people realize they aren’t being helped by these things.
"More care is not necessarily better care," wrote Dr. Rita Redberg, editor of the Archives of Internal Medicine, in a recent editorial.
Haven’t I been saying that all along?
Americans are being hurt by all these extra tests — and not just with a sucker punch to the wallet, either. All these screenings, proddings and lab visits add stress, come with risks and many even expose patients to radiation.
Just look at President Obama — he wants to cut medical waste and limit access to health care to millions of Americans, yet he submits to a full battery of pricey and unnecessary exams.
Hail to the chief, right?
Obama’s physical included a PSA test, which is never necessary, and a "virtual" colonoscopy. The guy’s only 48, for Pete’s sake!
Even when you do need a colonoscopy — one of the few cancer screenings I fully endorse — a "virtual" one adds cost, increases risk and is less accurate… and often ends in a traditional colonoscopy anyway.
The president was also given an unnecessary cholesterol test and a heart scan to look for calcium deposits in his arteries — again, entirely unnecessary, and even the mainstream experts agree on that
Skipping the scans and screenings,