Abuse of X-ray prescriptions causes patients to suffer both financially and mentally.

Medical equipment and machines help detect many diseases early and accurately, making diagnosis and treatment more effective. However, if imaging diagnostic techniques are abused, it will be costly and pose other dangers to patients.

Nowadays, modern medical equipment has helped the medical industry detect many diseases early and accurately - Illustration photo DUYEN PHAN

It was a general health check-up I will never forget.

During the abdominal ultrasound, the doctor's face showed his suspicion that there was something strange in my abdomen. The doctor asked me if I had any abdominal pain. I replied: no, I have been feeling bloated lately. After the ultrasound, the doctor told me to drink a bottle of water and come back to the doctor's office immediately for another ultrasound, suspecting a tumor.

After the second ultrasound, I returned to the doctor's office with the result that I had a "suspected pancreatic tumor" and needed a CT scan for more accuracy. I sat waiting in front of the doctor's office, my heart was filled with anxiety because I understood that pancreatic tumors were life-threatening.

The doctor examined the results and gave me detailed advice about my "suspicious tumor". The doctor said that an ultrasound of the pancreas tumor should be done immediately after drinking a lot of water to be accurate, the ultrasound doctor did a thorough ultrasound. The doctor advised me to have a CT or MRI scan if possible.

The condition is money, about 3 million VND. And more importantly, the fear of having a pancreatic tumor, possibly malignant, the patient's life is often not long.

I decided to do an MRI (a CT scan would be cheaper but I had to go elsewhere to get the machine). The result: my abdomen was completely normal. The doctor examined the results and congratulated me, saying it was a bit expensive but reassuring. At that time, I consoled myself and was happy that I didn't have a terminal illness.

My mother was 74 years old that year, hospitalized with a high fever, very tired... The doctor ordered a CT scan to find the cause of my mother's severe abdominal pain (according to her medical history). And that time I cried because I was afraid of losing my mother.

My mother suffered from shock from the contrast agent that was given before the CT scan. She was in severe shock and her condition was very serious, and she did not have time to go for the scan. During the days in the hospital, the doctors and nurses were busy saving my mother from all kinds of dangerous effects after the contrast agent shock. And my mother was discharged with a medical record showing a urinary tract infection.

I went to a traditional medicine clinic for musculoskeletal problems. The doctor wanted to see my previous X-ray or MRI results from elsewhere, to see them once and treat them for years whenever I had pain.

The doctor said to see the level of the disease, if it doesn't progress too badly, there's no need to take another X-ray, it's expensive and can affect health.

Many doctors have looked at old patient images and records, and listened to patients more instead of having to take X-rays every time. Medical records are now being gradually digitized, which is also a way to reduce the abuse of imaging equipment in cases where it is not really necessary.

My acquaintances also have mixed opinions on this. Imaging technology is a medical advancement that needs to be used properly and appropriately when needed. Don't let modern machines be labeled as "money-making" machines.

After all, the doctor's thoughtful questioning and listening before using new equipment is the best condition for diagnosis and treatment.

DANG VY

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/lam-dung-chi-dinh-chup-chieu-nguoi-benh-vua-kho-tien-vua-kho-tam-20250623204321807.htm