To the Editor: The views of Mendelson and Murray1 regarding inappropriate use of diagnostic imaging and how it might be reduced are timely and important. Unless governments, doctors, the medical imaging industry and consumers acknowledge the significant barriers to Mendelson and Murray’s proposed changes, the number of inappropriate tests will grow.
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- 1 Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists, Sydney, NSW.
- 2 Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Southern Health, Melbourne, VIC.
Correspondence: mandel@ausdoctors.net
- 1. Mendelson RM, Murray CPJ. Towards the appropriate use of diagnostic imaging [editorial]. Med J Aust 2007; 187: 5-6. <MJA full text>
- 2. Broadhurst N, Baghurst T, MacLaren S. Ultrasound imaging for shoulder pain in general practice. Aust Fam Physician 2004; 33: 668-669.
- 3. Shiralkar S, Rennie A, Snow M, et al. Doctors’ knowledge of radiation exposure: questionnaire study. BMJ 2003; 327: 371-372.
- 4. Australian Medical Association. Big savings for government if GPs directly refer MRIs [press release]. Canberra: AMA, 2006; 24 Nov. http://www.ama.com.au/web.nsf/doc/WEEN-6VTUQ2 (accessed Aug 2007).
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