H. Gilbert Welch, a professor of medicine at the Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice in Hanover, N.H., has an important essay in the October 6, New York Times Journal of Medicine. It deals with the myth that screening health people saves lives. He writes:
"The term “preventive medicine” no longer means what it used to: keeping people well by promoting healthy habits, like exercising, eating a balanced diet and not smoking. The medical model for prevention has become less about health promotion and more about early diagnosis. It boils down to encouraging the well to have themselves tested to make sure they are not sick. And that approach doesn’t save money; it costs money."
These are just sound bites. This is a short, lucid article that is worth reading. You can read it here:
