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5 Things Doctors And Patients Should Question

BOSTON (CBS) - When your doctor recommends a test, do you question it?

If the answer is no, then maybe you should.

Doctors in nine different medical societies have each developed a list of five things physicians and patients should question in their specialty.

The goal is to improve care, reduce waste and eliminate unnecessary procedures by encouraging people to talk to their doctors.

For example, the American Academy of Family Physicians suggests imaging for lower back pain isn't necessary for the first six weeks, unless there are red flags.

They also say women younger than 21 don't need pap smears and doctors don't need to order annual electrocardiograms (EKGs) or other cardiac screening for low risk patients without symptoms.

You can read the complete lists from each of the nine medical societies by clicking on any of the links here:

  1. American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology
  2. American Academy of Family Physicians
  3. American College of Cardiology
  4. American College of Physicians
  5. American College of Radiology
  6. American Gastroenterological Association
  7. American Society of Clinical Oncology
  8. American Society of Nephrology
  9. American Society of Nuclear Cardiology
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