Medical test surprises: What should you be told?

Fox News ^ | Dec 13, 2013 | AP

[Innovative]

Sometimes, surprise findings can be life-saving, for example in the case of an athlete whose brain is scanned after a concussion, and radiologists spot a tumor, Hauser said.

Other times, nothing can be done. That same brain scan might show early signs of an incurable condition, Hauser said, and "this young person now needs to live with the knowledge that she may someday develop this neurologic disease."

Follow-up testing may do harm.

Doctors, researchers and direct-to-consumer companies alike should inform potential patients about the possibility of incidental findings before they undergo a medical test. They should clearly explain what will and won't be disclosed, so patients can make an informed decision about whether and how to proceed.

[null and void]

All they sent him was a short text file.

Yes, he should have gotten a digital image, he got a written paragraph.

Trust us...

[The Great RJ]

Under Obamacare you may never get a critical test until you are already showing symptoms or the wait for the test is so long that the problem is almost incurable when diagnosed. In the UK breast cancer survival rates are far less than those in the US. Some of the reasons are that mammograms in the UK are not started until age 50 and then given every 2-3 years where in the US mammograms start at age 40 and are routinely done annually. Long waits to see specialists or get cancer treatment are also common in the UK. Read article here

[B4Ranch]

I have been undergoing numerous CAT and PET/CT scans this past year. I always ask for a copy of the scan for my records. I also request that a copy of the scan be forwarded to my MD for his records. This way I can get my MD to explain in fine detail, any questions that I may have forgotten to ask the radiologist.

A simple, “Did you see what you expected to see?” and then a followup, “Was there anything that was unexpected?” I get my MD to put the scan up and explain what he sees as he looks through it. He points out what the radiologist wrote in the report and shows me where the items are on the scan.

[B4Ranch]

What are you waiting for? FIRE HER NOW!

[Paladin2]

"Trust us..."

Death Panel Territory.

[Paladin2]

I used to do my own x-ray reading of mechanical parts (cracks in wings, sensors, exhaust system parts, and to figure out how to disassemble unfamiliar assemblies in a non-destructive way, etc.).

Looking at my head MRI sections I could easily find the crazy parts.

[dalereed]

I expect my doctor to fully discus my condition and I believe that she does.

I have never been to an appointment with her that didn’t last a half an hour.

[Cyber Liberty]

Thanks....

[JimRed]

Medical test surprises: What should you be told?

How about THE TRUTH???

[CodeToad]

“it is the patients information”

Exactly. We pay for that information. It is ours.

[ourworldawry]

“No one has a greater right to information about me than I do. If my body has been central to the discovery of information, I have first rights to the information.”

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Well...you have a right to know then, the culling has begun.

[big'ol_freeper]

RE: It is keep your outbreak of Smallcox...