Safeguards urged over private medical tests

The British Medical Association (BMA) and the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges said they were concerned that individuals were being exploited by misleading advertising for private screening.

They say many of the procedures on offer are unreliable and inaccurate and in some cases people taking the tests are being given false reassurance.

The organisations have called for a strengthening of marketing rules for health screening to ensure that advertising is "factual" and "balanced".

These safeguards would require all marketing material to include information on the risks and limitations of tests, the implications of the results and any follow up procedures.

There should also be a statement of the health benefits from a test, including evidence for it.

Doctors say results from procedures such as the PSA test for prostate cancer – administered in GP surgeries when a person has shown symptoms – need to be explained to patients.

They have also warned that people should not be given results for tests such as cholesterol levels without receiving advice based upon their full medical history.

Concerns have also been expressed about other areas of private screening such as advertising for whole-body MRI and CT scans and the future impact of genetic screening.

BMA council chairman Dr Hamish Meldrum and chairman of the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges Professor Sir Neil Douglas have written to Health Secretary Andrew Lansley outlining their concerns.

BMA council chairman Dr Hamish Meldrum said: "Some private companies are taking advantage of vulnerable people by claiming that the health screening they offer will detect diseases early or reduce an individual's risk of developing specific illnesses."