Why More Tests Don’t Always Mean Better Care — and What Doctors Like Andrew Rudin, MD, Are Doing About It
Imagine going to the doctor for a mild complaint—maybe a headache or vague fatigue—and walking out with a long list of lab orders, imaging scans, and specialist referrals. It might feel reassuring at first. After all, your doctor is being “thorough,” right?
But what if all those tests weren’t just unnecessary… what if they were potentially harmful?
This is the growing reality in healthcare today: overtesting is becoming a serious concern, with far-reaching consequences. Recent studies show that excessive diagnostic testing is leading to false alarms, invasive procedures, emotional distress, and, in some cases, even increasing a patient’s long-term risk of cancer from radiation exposure.
Dr. Andrew Rudin, MD, a nationally recognized cardiologist practicing in Tennessee, has seen it all too often. And he’s speaking up.
“There’s this idea that if we test for everything, we’ll find the problem. But what we often find are more problems we didn’t need to find,” says Andrew Rudin, MD. “And then we chase them—sometimes to the patient’s detriment.”
The Hidden Cost of a “Just in Case” Mentality
It’s not hard to understand how we got here. With more advanced technology at our fingertips and a medical culture that prioritizes thoroughness, ordering tests “just in case” feels like good medicine. Patients often expect it, and doctors want to cover their bases.
But the problem with this mindset is what happens next.
A “just in case” CT scan might reveal a harmless cyst. That cyst might lead to more imaging. The new scan might suggest a biopsy. That biopsy might lead to complications—or at the very least, a great deal of anxiety. All of it began with a test that probably wasn’t necessary in the first place.
“What begins as reassurance can quickly turn into a diagnostic spiral,” explains Andrew Rudin, MD. “And once you’re on that track, it’s hard to get off.”
When Tests Do More Harm Than Good
Overdiagnosis doesn’t mean catching something early—it means finding something that never needed to be found, and then treating it anyway.
Recent data shows that:
- Up to 30% of imaging tests may be unnecessary.
- Radiation from repeated CT scans increases lifetime cancer risk.
- False positives from routine lab work lead to unnecessary treatments or surgeries.
- Patients with incidental findings often report higher levels of stress, even when the findings turn out to be benign.
The emotional toll can be just as damaging as the physical one. One study found that many patients who received ambiguous results reported feeling like they were “living with a diagnosis” even after being told they were healthy.
“I had a patient once who came in with a minor chest discomfort,” recalls Dr. Rudin. “We ruled out anything serious with a basic exam. But she insisted on a scan. It showed a tiny, non-cancerous lung nodule—something we now had to monitor, re-scan, and biopsy. She went through six months of stress, lost sleep, and even missed work, all for something that would never have harmed her.”
Why Doctors Are Rethinking Their Approach
Doctors like Andrew Rudin, MD are part of a growing movement toward what’s called diagnostic stewardship—the idea that just like prescribing medications, ordering tests should be done thoughtfully, not reflexively.
This doesn’t mean avoiding necessary care. It means asking:
- Will this test change the treatment plan?
- Are there risks involved in the test or what it might lead to?
- Is there a safer, simpler alternative?
- Does the patient understand the possible outcomes?
Dr. Rudin says this approach actually builds more trust with his patients. “They appreciate the honesty. When I explain that more testing isn’t always better—and could even be harmful—they feel respected, not dismissed.”
Educating Patients Is Key
A big part of the problem is that many people don’t know about the risks of overtesting. To most, it still seems like more testing = more care. But that’s not always true.
That’s why Dr. Rudin takes time to have these conversations with his patients. “I tell them, ‘I’m not withholding care. I’m trying to protect you from harm that doesn’t get talked about enough.’ And once they understand that, most of them feel relief.”
In some cases, Dr. Rudin uses decision aids—charts or visuals that walk patients through the pros and cons of a test. These tools make it easier to have a real conversation, not just a quick explanation.
So What Can You Do as a Patient?
If you’re a patient, here are a few questions you can ask before agreeing to a test:
- What are we looking for?
- What happens if the test finds something unexpected?
- What are the risks of the test?
- If the test is normal, what’s the next step?
- If the test is abnormal, what’s the next step?
You don’t have to decline every test—but being informed helps you make decisions that are truly in your best interest.
As Andrew Rudin, MD, puts it:
“Patients have more power than they think. Asking one or two thoughtful questions can prevent a whole chain of unnecessary stress.”
Conclusion: Less Isn’t Less—It’s Smarter
Modern medicine is miraculous. We can see more, know more, and treat more than ever before. But that doesn’t mean we always should.
The smartest care is not about doing everything—it’s about doing what matters. Thanks to physicians like Andrew Rudin, MD, the conversation is finally shifting. And that means more patients can get the right care—not just more of it.
So next time your doctor suggests a test, take a breath. Ask a question. And remember: sometimes, the best answer is the one that doesn’t send you down a rabbit hole you never needed to enter.