Overtreatment Is Taking a Harmful Toll

The New York Times | August 27, 2012, 2:37 pm | By TARA PARKER-POPE

When it comes to medical care, many patients and doctors believe more is better.  But an epidemic of overtreatment — too many scans, too many blood tests, too many procedures — is costing the nation’s health care system at least $210 billion a year, according to the Institute of Medicine, and taking a human toll in pain, emotional suffering, severe complications and even death.  Read more