Fox News
Expand
Browse All Video
Watch Live

You're watching...

New warnings against unnecessary medical tests, treatments

Details

  • Description

    Dr. Ernest Patti weighs in

  • Duration 4:24
  • Date

Clips

Also in this playlist...

Latest Health

Auto-advance: ON

Auto-advance
View All

Transcript

This transcript is automatically generated

All right now a brand new -- -- that doctors say you simply do not need a 135.

Tests in fact according to the latest research.

For more than a dozen medical societies.

So which tests should you get which ones should you -- -- -- -- information today from doctor Ernie pat -- patty.

He's -- senior attending physician and emergency medicine.

I think part of this hospital certainly you order a lot of tests doctor Patti we do -- -- -- -- and maybe.

You red flags.

We should avoid what we we can't just make a list right now -- -- you don't need these ever obviously every patient interaction is -- There are some though that we definitely over utilized an old habits are hard to break sometimes -- all over utilizing X rays cat scans.

Total body scans tests of this nature as I mentioned and over prescribing antibiotics.

-- -- -- about this total body scans because I hear there is a commercial on the radio now on that you know going -- this total by a -- -- gonna figure out you know if you -- sir there's an unknown illness that you need to check out why is that not a good idea why is -- more information better.

Many times they use a high.

Intensity cat -- and you're getting a whopping dose of radiation which.

You know over time the radiation dosage that your body receives heads up and could contribute to you developing -- future cancer down the road.

So if you don't need this type of test if you're asymptomatic and you don't have any.

Illness or issues why going to -- and occasionally they find things in areas that are inaccessible.

That may be benign but may cause concern for you.

Things that fear of missing something that's just out there -- and I think I wonder where you as a doctor to a patient comes an answer and symptoms.

Let's say there's five different tests you could give that you decide to give to.

Are you worried about not giving those other three because of litigation because the patient coming back and saying hey -- we -- these -- three tax and now I'm suing.

That's a big problem that many physicians and myself grapple with on a daily basis definitely you know medicine is a science are constantly changing science but also involves sort of an -- To it and that part is being able to evaluate a patient make them feel comfortable and getting information from them both verbally and from a physical exam to hope you go down the right path.

So how can we empower patients and our viewers out there.

So that we know what questions to ask our doctor before blindly taking a blood -- or an X rays are they're certain things that we shouldn't.

We she just inquire about because for the most part when we go to the doctors we trust in town that.

Almost definitely -- patient should ask you know -- -- really need this blood test away really need this radiological study you know is it necessary for me to get this kind of cat -- They really should ask and especially parents when they're taking their children to the doctors -- If the doctor doesn't give you that the satisfactory answer by speaking with you then maybe you should look for another doctor because doctors need to explain why and when we want to do.

How is this affecting cost health care costs in general the abundance of tasks that we can do now.

First is what -- PD fifty years ago -- definitely pushing costs up especially the Specter of malpractice you know physicians are worried that you know you're gonna get sued for.

For making that we're missing that one diagnosis that maybe is very rare.

And and it definitely causes some positions to over over utilized -- to do you think the problem is more.

This side of the patients.

Are more on this side in the medical profession and not to place blame because there's obviously the environment that's out there just because of the amount -- The amount of litigation the data and information we can do as far as research on the Internet as well -- those are all components but where do you think he.

Where do you think the overdoing it comes from -- from the patients or -- it from the doctors and -- Well I think it's from the doctors trying to.

Protect themselves and their patients.

Both from the patients getting disease and from the doctors themselves being sued I think it it it the blame has the -- and actually both there is there.

Those just to take our but I don't want to your right it is as difficult question on the other said that at that point I'm curious if there's attacks that patients often don't ask for.

And doctors often doesn't give.

That might be sending that we should know about.

Sometimes the test of time and many times that's what we use as physicians we want to see you again in a couple of days and 48 hours reexamine you.

Maybe have a contact after the first encounter to see if you're progressing towards the improvement or you're worsening.

The -- -- -- -- -- time vick's other doctor -- hits and -- at its heart that patients in this world that eleven maybe it's beneficial for.

For both doctors and patients it really is but the key is communication between the doctor and the patient.

Both ways good point doctor -- it's heavy as that is all right thanks so much pressure to having John.

Load More