Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel, an oncologist, writes at The New York Times today that you should get an annual flu shot and a colonoscopy every ten years, but skip annual physicals.
Seriously.
He says there is no evidence that they save lives. None. 182,000 people participating in various randomized trials over many years have revealed no difference in mortality between those getting annual physicals and those who only go to physicians for specific complaints.
They cost the country billions, but they don’t save lives.
NYTIMES.COM|BY EZEKIEL J. EMANUEL
Prometheus Unbound 