Why your doctor might be recommending a treatment you don't need
In short: Medical systems often suffer from a paradox of over-treatment. While some lack access to basic care, others face unnecessary procedures driven by physician enthusiasm or patient pressure. Neurosurgeon Christer Mjåset argues that the most powerful tool for patient safety is a simple, proactive shift in how we communicate with providers.
A global healthcare imbalance is noted by Christer Mjåset, a neurosurgeon who serves as the Norwegian Medical Association's vice president. While some populations struggle to access treatment, others receive excessive care. Mjåset notes that research suggests doctors may prescribe or suggest something completely unnecessary roughly 3 out of 10 times. This over-treatment can be driven by 'patient pressure'—the subconscious desire of a patient to receive a concrete diagnosis or prescription after investing time and energy into an appointment. Mjåset shares a personal turning point involving a patient with a herniated cervical disc. Although he had performed the suggested spinal surgery many times, the patient asked, 'Doctor, is this really necessary?' This forced Mjåset to confront his own professional bias: he admitted that his enthusiasm for the 'fun' part of his job—operating—had influenced his recommendation. The procedure carried significant risks, including potential paralysis, which the patient's question helped to highlight. To counter these biases, Mjåset suggests that patients take the 'front seat' in shared decision-making. He proposes four specific questions to ask whenever a medication, test, or procedure is recommended: 1. Is this really necessary? 2. What are the risks? 3. Are there other options? 4. What happens if I don’t do anything? Despite the reality of short appointment times—averaging just five minutes or less in 18 countries representing half the world's population—asking these questions can reduce systemic costs and prevent avoidable complications.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: 4 questions you should always ask your doctor | Christer Mjåset
- Also: Prevent unnecessary medical care — by asking your doctor these 4 questions first |
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