Doctors Admit to Over-Treating Patients

. . . a disease-care system out of control Most patients like to believe that their doctors' decisions regarding treatment are motivated by concern for patient health. However, according to a new study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, all too many physician decisions are motivated by fear and greed, leading to an epidemic of over-treatment. In a survey of 627 members of the AMA, 75% admitted to over-treating patients due to fears of malpractice charges, while 62% agreed that diagnostic testing would be reduced if it didn't generate revenue. Since doctors are paid for both procedures and tests, the temptations to over-test and over-treat are great. Doctors also say they do more tests because they don't get enough time with their patients. Meanwhile another study found that in 2009 over $6.7 billion in excess healthcare spending was wasted in the primary care setting alone (primary care refers to health practitioners like family doctors who make initial assessments and often refer patients on to specialists). Most of this came from prescribing brand name versus generic statin drugs! The rest came primarily from over-prescribing antibiotics and children's cough medicines, and doing twice as much blood work as needed as well as unnecessary bone density scans, urine tests and Pap tests. The current disease-care system is completely out of control and threatens to bankrupt our country. It is up to us to restore sanity by learning how to take charge of our own health and refuse ineffective and wasteful, not to mention dangerous medical tests and treatments. No one should be taking statin drugs whether they're brand name or generic. Remember, your doctor works for you. If he or she doesn't understand this, find another doctor who does. Sirovich, BE. Too little? Too much? Primary care MDs' views on US health care. Archives of Internal Medicine. September 2011;171(17)1582-1585. Kale, MS. "Top 5" lists top $5 billion. Archives of Internal Medicine. Published online October 1, 2011.