Lazris & Rifkin's Risk-Benefit Characterization Theater
Channel: KFF Health News
Date: 2016-10-12

Mammograms are said to cut the risk of dying from breast cancer by as much as 20 percent, which sounds like an invincible argument for regular screening.

Two Maryland researchers want people to question that kind of thinking. They want patients to reexamine the usefulness of cancer exams, cholesterol tests, osteoporosis pills, MRI scans and many other routinely prescribed procedures and medicines.

And they want to convince them with statistics — but don’t worry! They promise not to use algebra or spreadsheets. Or even numbers.

Read more at http://khn.org/news/how-tiny-are-benefits-from-many-tests-and-pills-researchers-paint-a-picture/