Download e-book for kindle: Overdiagnosed: Making People Sick in the Pursuit of Health by H. Gilbert Welch

By H. Gilbert Welch

ISBN-10: 0807022012

ISBN-13: 9780807022016

From a nationally well-known specialist, an exposé of the worst excesses of our zeal for scientific testing

Going opposed to the traditional knowledge strengthened by means of the clinical institution and massive Pharma that extra screening is the easiest preventative medication, Dr. Gilbert Welch builds a compelling counterargument that what we want are fewer, no more, diagnoses. Documenting the excesses of yank scientific perform that labels a long way too many people as ill, Welch examines the social, moral, and monetary ramifications of a health-care method that unnecessarily diagnoses and treats sufferers, such a lot of whom won't reap the benefits of remedy, will be harmed by way of it, and might arguably be at an advantage with no screening.

Drawing on twenty-five years of scientific perform and examine at the results of scientific checking out, Welch explains in an easy, jargon-free type how the cutoffs for treating someone with "abnormal" attempt effects were significantly diminished simply while technological advances have allowed us to work out a growing number of "abnormalities," lots of with a purpose to pose fewer healthiness problems than the methods that ostensibly therapy them. mentioning reviews that express that 10 percentage of 2 thousand fit humans have been came upon to have had silent strokes, and that good over 1/2 males over age sixty have strains of prostate melanoma yet no impairment, Welch unearths overdiagnosis to be rampant for various stipulations and ailments, together with diabetes, excessive ldl cholesterol, osteoporosis, gallstones, belly aortic aneuryisms, blood clots, in addition to dermis, prostate, breast, and lung cancers.

With genetic and prenatal screening now universal, sufferers are being clinically determined now not with affliction yet with "pre-disease" or for being at "high risk" of constructing disorder. Revealing the industrial and clinical forces that give a contribution to overdiagnosis, Welch makes a reasoned demand switch that may store us from numerous unneeded surgical procedures, over the top fear, and exorbitant bills, all whereas holding a balanced view of either the capability merits and harms of prognosis. Drawing on info, scientific experiences, and anecdotes from his personal perform, Welch builds a high-quality, obtainable case opposed to the assumption that extra screening constantly improves future health care.