Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Unethical screening - a timely warning

Minister of Health's recent blog on the ethics of unnecessary screening is very much welcomed.

There has been too much alarmist report of late particularly related to cancer screenings, many of which are nit really borne out by evidence based logic. It is easy to fuel panic and guilt. We have commented on the mammogram issue before.

Once we could count on the government hospital to do the essential, and only the essentials. The necessary and the needful. But nowadays, the government hospitals have become 'restructured' and often compete with the private sector for business. Who do we go to for sound advice on what is really necessary? I would really like to see the HPB come up with a sound evidence-based advice for the patient consumer, instead of just telling what services are available.

Meanwhile, caveat emptor.

No comments: