A new study published in the influential open access medical journal PLOS Medicine, has found that many of the experts who define diseases – and often widen those definitions – also work as paid consultants and speakers for drug companies which stand to benefit from their decisions. You can see the free full text of the study here
Controversy over Chronic Kidney Disease
An Analysis article by Ray and co-authors in the British Medical Journal investigates the controversy over the definition of “Chronic Kidney Disease” – and the risk of overdiagnosis. See the article here. See BMJ cover art based on this article.
Sharing decisions about the future of medicine
Ray’s latest column in the BMJ argues for greater citizen engagement in decisions about how to wind back the harms of too much medicine
Registration opens soon for Preventing Overdiagnosis conference
A registration fee of $475 has just been announced for the Preventing Overdiagnosis conference, taking place at Dartmouth College in the United States, September 10-12, this year. The conference is hosted by the Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice, in partnership with BMJ, Consumer Reports and Bond University. Abstract submission is now open, until March 15, and registration will open soon. You can find more details here
Overdiagnosis series on ‘The Conversation’
The Australian academic media outlet “The Conversation” has just run an easy-to-read nine-part series on the problem of overdiagnosis – written by some leading doctors and researchers, with examples including ADHD, Alzheimer’s and Breast Cancer. Its all very accessible, free and full text on line here
BBC Series on Overdiagnosis
The problem of Overdiagnosis – diagnosing too many well people – is the subject of a two-part BBC radio series, 14-21 August, 2012, available free here
Controversy grows over definition of diabetes in pregnancy
A fierce debate is underway about where to draw the line between normal and abnormal when it comes to the condition called “gestational diabetes”. Medical groups have recently made changes that dramatically expand the number of women classified as having this condition – but some fear a fresh case of over-medicalisation which will see many healthy women unncessarily labelled as sick. Read more in Ray’s latest column, available free here in the Medical Journal of Australia
