Guidelines be Damned

The urologists have done it again: Patient’s [non-prostate-related urological issue] is resolved. Annual prostate cancer screening with PSA and DRE emphasized. [sic] Re-check in one year. Prostate cancer screening guidelines; FOUR of them: from the American Cancer Society, the American Urological Association, the American College of Physicians, and the United States Preventive Services Task Force. Go ahead; click through; read them. Central to EACH AND EVERY ONE is the concept of “shared decision making,” recognizing that “[t]he benefits of screening with the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test are outweighed by the harms for most men.” (American College of Physicians) Here it is again: The American Cancer Society (ACS) recommends that men have a chance to make an informed decision with their health care provider about whether to be screened for prostate cancer. The decision should be made after getting information about the uncertainties, risks, and potential benefits of prostate cancer screening. Men should not be screened unless they have received this information. [emphasis mine] Oh, but that’s just from a bunch of people who don’t actually take care of patients with prostate cancer. Okay. Here you go. Guideline statements from the American Urological Association (that would be the folks who do actually take care of patients with prostate cancer): Guideline Statement 1: The Panel recommends against PSA screening in men under age...
Source: Musings of a Dinosaur - Category: Primary Care Authors: Tags: Medical Source Type: blogs