This refers to the article "Do you need that test?" (BS Weekend, January 3). No one questions the importance of regular check-ups for infants, children and pregnant women, and the protective value of specific examinations for elderly patients. But arguments against annual physical tests for adults have been fuelled by a growing number of studies that have failed to find a medical benefit. Current advanced technologies assist doctors to look really hard for things to be wrong. And we all know that according to Murphy's Law, it will something will go wrong, and make us more apprehensive.
Thresholds for diagnosing a disease have fallen in the last few years and with these changes, more than half of us can be considered to have some disease. So an epidemic of diagnosis has led to an epidemic of treatments. Unhappily, more of us are being told that we are sick and only a few that we are well.
Experts note that when something seemingly abnormal is picked up during a routine examination, the result is psychological distress for the patient, further testing that may do more harm than good, and increased medical expenses.
H N Ramakrishna, Bengaluru
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