http://www.docgurley.com/2008/06/21/mdea-culpa/ Posts from an Insane Healthcare System Thu, 11 Mar 2010 02:55:07 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 http://www.docgurley.com/2008/06/21/mdea-culpa/comment-page-1/#comment-1063 James Sat, 21 Jun 2008 20:51:03 +0000 http://www.docgurley.com/?p=209#comment-1063 I enjoyed your post; the articles you cite make some very relevant points. But, I do think I have a slightly different attitude toward the overall concept of screening. The issue of whom should be screened when and for what is more of a public health concern than an issue for individual practitioners. Certainly, it's our job to know what the recommendations are so that we can make appropriate recommendations to our patients. But, screening is not a universal good; screening may save your life or it may kill you. People like the USPSTF make recommendations based on what <i>they</i> feel is an appropriate risk/benefit ratio. But, ultimately, whether or not to be screened for something is a personal decision and each individual has to weigh the risks and benefits for themselves. But, I agree, as physicians, we should be making the same recommendations for screening colonoscopies that we would for Dick Cheney as we would for an African American homeless man. Unless the homeless man has three other conditions that will potentially kill him before colon cancer - then I think it's reasonable to take care of those first. I enjoyed your post; the articles you cite make some very relevant points. But, I do think I have a slightly different attitude toward the overall concept of screening. The issue of whom should be screened when and for what is more of a public health concern than an issue for individual practitioners. Certainly, it’s our job to know what the recommendations are so that we can make appropriate recommendations to our patients. But, screening is not a universal good; screening may save your life or it may kill you. People like the USPSTF make recommendations based on what they feel is an appropriate risk/benefit ratio. But, ultimately, whether or not to be screened for something is a personal decision and each individual has to weigh the risks and benefits for themselves. But, I agree, as physicians, we should be making the same recommendations for screening colonoscopies that we would for Dick Cheney as we would for an African American homeless man. Unless the homeless man has three other conditions that will potentially kill him before colon cancer – then I think it’s reasonable to take care of those first.

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