What Happens When Physicians Do Not Follow Up On Abnormal Digital Exam And PSA Testing


Imagine you are a man and you go to your physician for your yearly checkup. Imagine the physician orders blood tests, including a PSA test which is used for the early detection of prostate cancer. This is the way to check if a male without any symptoms of prostate cancer may actually have it. Imagine the tests came back outside the normal range

But, there is still debate amid some doctors over the way to screen asymptomatic men for prostate cancer or even if screening is even important. They argue that screening has little, if any, value. If the result of a screening test is abnormal the patient ought to be informed about the results and either be referred to a specialist or be told about the option for diagnostic testing, for example a biopsy. Once more, though, a number of physicians also believe that, at least under certain instances, a man diagnosed with prostate cancer does not have to undergo treatment right away and simply has to carefully monitor the cancer.

If the physician does not give the patient the option to undergo screening or fails to tell the patient about the abnormal test results the patient