From the Frontline

Does early diagnosis really save lives?

BMJ 2012; 344 doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.e4252 (Published 19 June 2012)
Cite this as: BMJ 2012;344:e4252

Get access to this article and all of bmj.com for the next 14 days

Sign up for a 14 day free trial today

Access to the full text of this article requires a subscription or payment. Please log in or subscribe below.

  1. Des Spence, general practitioner, Glasgow
  1. destwo{at}yahoo.co.uk

Language is important. For many years the popular press clamoured for more screening, because detecting a disease early is always better. We couldn’t get enough of health checks. But now we are falling out of love with screening, with reports and evidence of unnecessary interventions, overdiagnosis, and medical harm. Many of us puff out our chests in self satisfied vindication, but the intuitive and near religious belief that early diagnosis is a good thing has not gone away: government and charities now lobby to promote …

Get access to this article and all of bmj.com for the next 14 days

Sign up for a 14 day free trial today

Access to the full text of this article requires a subscription or payment. Please log in or subscribe below.

Article access

Article access for 1 day

Purchase this article for £20 $30 €32*

The PDF version can be downloaded as your personal record

* Prices do not include VAT

THIS WEEK'S POLL