This is always a difficult question.
Doctors always try to give the best and most up to date medical advice.
However, they can also at times be over enthusiastic for innovative approaches to medical care that are yet unproven or may disagree with the main stream recommendations for a particular medical condition or may be swayed by the fee considerations. I think the wording here is a bit tricky not sure if we should say it this way
If in doubt, we recommend getting a second opinion. This is time consuming but will save you both money and potential painful complications and is well worthwhile. Speak to your GP about your concerns and ask for details of another specialist.
There are a number of procedures where there is a range of views as to when to recommend a given procedure. The common ones at the moment are:
Colonoscopy
The peak medical authority NH&MRC recommends the National faecal occult blood testing program as the way to screen for bowel cancer in people between 50 and 74 who do not have any symptoms. It is important to to ask why the procedure is necessary particularly if you do not have any bowel symptoms.
If you have symptoms, a family history of bowel cancer, or history of bowel adenomas diagnosed previously, it is recommended that you consult a specialist to identify the best way to monitor the early identification of bowel cancers.
Arthroscopy
Arthroscopy is a surgical technique that can diagnose and treat problems in the knee joint. The procedure involves a small incision and the introduction of a tiny camera — called an arthroscope into your knee. The procedure is used to investigate a problem with the knee and, if necessary, correct the issue using small instruments within the arthroscope.
A number of respected opinions are shown below:
Harvard Medical School: study suggests that among middle-aged and older adults with meniscal tears and osteoarthritis, nonsurgical treatment should be the preferred option over arthroscopic meniscal repair.
Professor David Hunter, Florance and Cope Chair of Rheumatology Chair of Institute of Bone and Joint Research at the University of Sydney, : the evidence of a lack of benefit from knee arthroscopy had been mounting since the early 2000
Stem cell infusion for arthritis
Experts are researching ways to use stem cells to treat arthritis in the knee and other joints. Many doctors already use stem cell therapy to treat arthritis, but it is not considered standard practice. There is a lot of debate around stem cell treatment, and it is helpful for potential patients to understand what stem cells are and the issues surrounding their use in arthritis therapy.
Further information can be found here:
https://www.arthritis-health.com/treatment/injections/stem-cell-therapy-arthritis
Aggressive Management of Prostate Cancer
Some studies of men who had prostate cancer surgery after being diagnosed through a blood test have shown very little benefit from aggressive surgical treatment over other options, including “watchful waiting” (ie no active treatment), especially for less aggressive cancers and in older patients. Given that prostate cancer treatments can significantly increase erectile dysfunction and other problems, this suggests that the risks of treatment may outweigh the benefits. .
Injections of steroids into joints by radiologists
This procedure should only be done if referred by an orthopaedic surgeon who has assessed your case and recommended the Imaging ( X Ray , CT or MRI) and requested the radiologist to undertake injection procedure. Steroid injections can delay much needed joint replacement surgery if not done for the appropriate clinical problem.
Use of CT and MRI scans
It is worth discussing options with your GP to establish which test will ensure a diagnosis and or determine treatment.
Breast reconstruction
This procedure is strongly recommended after mastectomy for breast cancer.
It is usually recommended but can be expensive and not readily available through public hospital system however you should discuss the options with your treating Doctor.
It is always good to ask questions about your recommended treatment. You may not want to seek a second opinion but asking questions always helps to give you a better understanding of the potential outcomes of the treatment, possible complications and out of pocket costs.