Seven widely held assumptions about the value of medical care

Dr. H. Gilbert Welch is an academic physician, a professor at Dartmouth Medical School, and a nationally recognized expert on the effects of medical testing. He sees the value of medical care, particularly in those who are acutely ill or injured. But in many other settings, we have exaggerated the benefits of medical care and understated its harms. In this video, Dr. Welch examines seven widely held assumptions about the value of medical care.

Assumptions covered

1. All risks can be lowered
2. It’s always better to fix the problem
3. Sooner detection is always better
4. It never hurts to get more information
5. Action is always better than inaction
6. Newer is always better
7. It’s all about avoiding death

More information

• Video published on 16 Mar 2015 by Beacon Press.
• 7 Assumptions That Drive Too Much Medical Care, beacon.
• Watch more research videos on @DES_Journal YT channel.