Problems of evidence-based patient choice in screening programmes.

A screening programme is a coordinated set of services for a defined population. Its purpose is to reduce the risk of dying, for example, of breast cancer. But testing does harm as well. For all potential screening programmes policies were developed in the UK during the last ten years: For 22 programmes there are national standards and annual reports, for 17 standards are missing and for 68 cases there is a policy not to screen. Screening is a population based programme, but it is the individual's informed choice whether to take part or not.