The medical industry has invested heavily in creating more sophisticated diagnostic tests but has neglected how to use them appropriately, according to an opinion piece by Daniel Morgan published by STAT News. This imbalance, he argues, drives widespread overtesting and unnecessary procedures.
The piece challenges the prevailing assumption that more testing automatically improves patient outcomes. Instead, Morgan advocates for a structural overhaul—what he terms “diagnostic stewardship”—to align test utilization with clinical necessity.
While the opinion does not cite specific data on the scale of overtesting, it highlights a systemic gap in medical education and practice. Morgan suggests that without institutional changes, wasteful testing will persist.
Patients bear the brunt of unnecessary tests through added costs, anxiety, and potential harm from false positives or follow-up procedures. The healthcare system also faces billions in wasted spending annually, though exact figures are not provided.
Missing from the piece is a detailed blueprint for implementation or consideration of financial incentives that drive overtesting. Morgan's call for stewardship remains a high-level prescription.