Hospital websites have become a norm in most developed societies, along with symptom trackers, and message boards. Nowadays, you can even order lab tests without the oversight of a physician. DNA testing kits that can analyze potential health risks are easily accessible. You could order medical testing services such as blood tests and X-ray scans with a doctor’s oversight.
There is, however, a possible con to the improvement of medicine and technology. With a vast array of information about your health available to you, it becomes too much at a point. The executive vice president for research, Gordon Bernard, emphasizes this fact by saying that doctors are trained to reveal medical information to patients subtly and cautiously. Technology has removed this valuable element in the field of medicine. Patients can build up undue anxiety and confusion while waiting for test results at home.
However, direct-to-consumer testing is not the only problem in the evolving industry. There has also been a documented epidemic of overtreatment and over-testing in the recent past. According to Tomas H. Ayal, a renowned cardiologist at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore, there are strict stipulations that must apply in medical testing, whether done under the supervision of a physician or at home:
1. The results must answer the relevant medical question,
2. The results of the test must not influence the process of treatment or clinical outcomes, and possibly most importantly,
3. The results must be authentic.
Without any of the above assurances, the results of a test are only slightly weightier than a mere rumor. Testing is undoubtedly an invaluable means for deducing diseases and conditions in patients. Medical professionals must, however, be aware of the importance of being selective with the tests their patients take.
Medical tests are not easy to interpret. This is especially true as we age. For instance, spine X-rays of anyone above 50 years of age usually yield results that do not show the main source of pain. Without knowing the actual problem, a physician cannot competently prescribe medication for their patients. The essential question patients should answer before carrying out tests at home is; will you be able to interpret the results of the test correctly? And if so, are you confident the test is examining the condition you are inquiring about? The risk of running false positives in the current state of technology in the medical field is higher than ever.
Read More: https://www.cnet.com/news/google-medical-symptoms/
