The ethics of screening: is 'screeningitis' an incurable disease?

Shickle D; Chadwick R

doi:10.1136/jme.20.1.12

The ethics of screening: is 'screeningitis' an incurable disease?

Shickle D ¹,

Chadwick R

Affiliations

1. Centre for Applied Public Health Medicine, University of Wales College of Medicine, Cardiff.
Authors
Shickle D¹
(1 author)

Journal of Medical Ethics, 01 Mar 1994, 20(1):12-18
https://doi.org/10.1136/jme.20.1.12 PMID: 8035433 PMCID: PMC1376367

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Abstract

Screening programmes are becoming increasingly popular since prevention is considered 'better than cure'. While earlier diagnosis may result in more effective treatment for some, there will be consequent harm for others due to anxiety, stigma, side-effects etc. A screening test cannot guarantee the detection of all 'abnormal' cases, therefore there will be false reassurance for some. A proper consideration of the potential benefit and harm arising from screening may lead to the conclusion that the programme should not be offered. A modified utilitarian approach may be used for allocation of scarce resources in health care. Ethics has an important role in this evaluation.

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J Med Ethics. 1994 Mar; 20(1): 12–18.

https://doi.org/10.1136/jme.20.1.12

PMCID: PMC1376367

PMID: 8035433

The ethics of screening: is 'screeningitis' an incurable disease?

D Shickle and R Chadwick

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The ethics of screening: is 'screeningitis' an incurable disease?

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Abstract

Free full text

The ethics of screening: is 'screeningitis' an incurable disease?

Abstract

Full text

Full text is available as a scanned copy of the original print version. Get a printable copy (PDF file) of the complete article (1.1M), or click on a page image below to browse page by page. Links to PubMed are also available for Selected References.

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

Associated Data

Full text links

Citations & impact

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Citations of article over time

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Smart citations by scite.ai
Explore citation contexts and check if this article has been supported or disputed.
https://scite.ai/reports/10.1136/jme.20.1.12

Article citations

Development and Validation of a Risk Score Screening Tool to Identify People at Risk for Hypertension in Shanghai, China.

Newborn Screening: Review of its Impact for Cystinosis.

Diagnostic Validity of Auditory Brainstem Response for the Initial Screening of Vestibular Schwannoma.

Bone mineral density surveillance for childhood, adolescent, and young adult cancer survivors: evidence-based recommendations from the International Late Effects of Childhood Cancer Guideline Harmonization Group.

'A double-edged sword': Perceived benefits and harms of active case-finding for people with presumptive tuberculosis and communities-A qualitative study based on expert interviews.

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