5 Often Unnecessary Medical Tests

October 2, 2013 | Crandall & Pera Law
5 Often Unnecessary Medical Tests

New studies show that many patients do not benefit from costly screening tests, that can also come with false positives and excessive radiation. 

Here are 5 medical tests that may prove to do more harm than good, according to ABC News:


  1. Bone-density test - Aside from those who are at high risk for weak bones, women should wait until they are 65 to have their bone density measured. While the scan may detect mild bone loss, the risk of fracture is low and the drugs that may be prescribed to treat this condition carry side effects and haven't proved to be highly beneficial in these cases.

  2. CT scan or MRI for headaches - Most of the time a careful medical history and a neurological exam (e.g., measuring reflexes) can diagnose the problem. And CT scans involve a hefty dose of radiation.

  3. EKG or exercise stress test - Hooking up to an electrocardiogram and/or taking an exercise stress test makes sense if you have symptoms of heart disease or are at high risk, but those at low risk who are just looking for reassurance may get inaccurate results that can lead to further testing and overtreatment with drugs.

  4. Imaging for lower-back pain - You don't want to skip an X-ray, CT scan or MRI if there are signs of a severe problem (a history of cancer, fever or pain that lasts several weeks), but lower-back pain often gets better in about a month.

  5. PET/CT for cancer screening in healthy people - The likelihood of finding cancer in healthy adults using these screening methods is extremely low, according to the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging.


Read the full article here: 5 Medical Tests to Think Twice About

This informative article provides advice and guidance on testing that may not necessarily benefit you and may also lead to increased health care costs.

If you or a family member believe you have a medical malpractice case, contact Crandall & Pera Law today for a free case evaluation. Crandall & Pera Law is available to help answer your questions and guide you in determining your next steps.