ARTICLE: Radiation Overdoses Point Up Dangers of CT Scans, By WALT BOGDANICH, New York Times, October 15, 2009
Once Emily navigated her way out of chemo and the CTs (catscans) proved her clean, we were surprised at how quickly the diagnostics were dialed back down.
At first, we suspected a cost issue, but the docs said no, it's really a matter of trying to limit radiation exposure. Em had about a dozen CTs, but once the docs said we were in territory where other signs would present themselves faster, the CTs were discontinued.
Not easy to take as a parent, because you get addicted to the information and reassurance of the tests, but I admired how well the decline of their frequency was thought out by the docs.
The key question we learned to ask everybody: "How will this test affect the course of our care?" If no good answer was had, then you had to challenge the test.
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Comments (1)
Cochran's Rule, named after pioneering statistician William G ("Wild Bill") Cochran:
If you're thinking about doing a test, decide in advance how the outcome of the test will affect what you will do after the test. If what you will do will not depend on the outcome of the test, don't do the test.
Posted by Rod Montgomery | November 20, 2009 7:07 PM