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When your healthcare provider orders a medical test, chances are you trust their clinical judgment. But certain tests may be unnecessary—and could even do more harm than good.
“Besides the extra cost, some tests have risks, such as the radiation from imaging tests,” says Keith Roach, MD, Associate Professor in Clinical Medicine in the division of general medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College and New York Presbyterian Hospital.
Other tests could show a false positive result, which can lead to needless worry and invasive follow-up procedures.
To reduce the burden of over-testing, you may want to get a second opinion regarding tests with higher risks, such as those that use radiation. Beyond that, medical organizations have come up with short lists of common procedures that may not be necessary, such as the following.
Sources: Koh ES, Lee AY, Ehdaie B, & Marti JL. Co... + 31
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