Diagnosis (and overdiagnosis)

<p>Today’s episode is about medical diagnosis.&nbsp;It’s a tricky business and&nbsp;</p><p>as patients we want to make sure the diagnosis is as accurate as possible without</p><p>something being missed or the opposite - the risk of overtreatment.</p><br><p>I look at the role of screening and talk through some of the challenges we face as both patients and&nbsp;</p><p>clinicians.</p><br><p>Links:</p><br><p><br></p><p>Improving diagnosis:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.improvediagnosis.org/stories/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.improvediagnosis.org/stories/</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;(USA based)</p><br><p>Screening and ethics which govern it in the NHS:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-nsc-ethical-framework-for-screening/uk-nsc-ethical-framework-for-screening" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-nsc-ethical-framework-for-screening/uk-nsc-ethical-framework-for-screening</a></p><br><p>“Too much medicine”:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bmj.com/too-much-medicine" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.bmj.com/too-much-medicine</a></p><br><p>Overdiagnosis:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/362/bmj.k2820" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.bmj.com/content/362/bmj.k2820</a></p><br><p>Ivan Illich and his Medical Nemesis:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.rcpe.ac.uk/sites/default/files/jrcpe_46_2_omahony_0.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.rcpe.ac.uk/sites/default/files/jrcpe_46_2_omahony_0.pdf</a></p><br><p>Achenbach syndrome (just FYI):&nbsp;<a href="https://casereports.bmj.com/content/13/9/e238156" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://casereports.bmj.com/content/13/9/e238156</a></p><br><p>Medically unexplained symptoms:&nbsp;<a href="https://bjgp.org/content/67/656/106" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://bjgp.org/content/67/656/106</a></p><br><p>Bill Turnbull documentary:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.channel4.com/programmes/bill-turnbull-staying-alive" rel=