Are routine medical screenings always beneficial? Each year, millions of Americans willingly participate in these tests with the intent of safeguarding their health. Yet emerging evidence indicates that certain screenings may be unnecessary and even jeopardize people’s well-being.
The High Price of Excessive Medical Screening
The United States spends twice as much on health care per person as other industrialized nations, but the returns in terms of life expectancy are dishearteningly meager. Despite the high expenditures, the United States lags behind 12 high-income countries in numerous health indicators.Although the United States is near the top of the list in screening rates for breast and colorectal cancer, behind only Sweden and the Netherlands, the efficacy of such frequent screenings is debatable.
