Tuesday, January 25, 2005

A doctor warns against overordering lab tests
"Make no mistake; patients should take charge of their own health. But a little knowledge without context or clinical judgment can cause a lot of trouble to patients and doctors alike. Unnecessary anxiety and wasted time and money-chasing wild goose lab results may not be a good thing. Be careful, doctor. Don't order lab tests that you don't really need. You're asking for trouble."

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Comments:
I was always taught not to order lab tests you weren't prepared to act on. It's still good advice.
# posted by Blogger Orac : 8:19 AM
 
I think most reasonably intelligent, literate people without compromised mental function, can put basic lab tests "into context" using the excellent internet resources available for laypersons and medical professionals. That is, they have ready access to discussion of what lab values might mean/might not mean in context of their individual symptoms/lack of symptoms, and other test results. They know what drugs they are taking, interactions possible, how much they drink, etc., or where values probably represent something transient or insignificant in light of other factors.

What problem is this pathologist addressing? What tests, in what context, is he discouraging?

CEA testing? PSA? Liver panels? What's he talking about?
# posted by Anonymous Anonymous : 11:41 AM
 
DO I detect a litigation subtext here? Don't get "caught" with results that could later be used against you?
# posted by Blogger SarahW : 11:44 AM
 
Precisely--both previous posts! It's the same reason doctors don't like computer diagnostic programs: they'll document the possible diagnoses they missed because they weren't profitable for them to pursue them.

Knowledge is good; knowledge is power--patients who want to pay should get all the info THEY want.
# posted by Anonymous Anonymous : 10:24 PM
 
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