Cholesterol screening--or snails and problem evangelists.(Screenwatch 2)

The main terminal at Dulles International in Washington DC is a remarkable building with a roof that is curved like the wing of a soaring gull. High in this magnificent building is a very large sign exhorting American males to attend for prostate cancer screening. Are the Americans right or is UK policy correct? In the case of prostate cancer screening Bandolier firmly believes that the Americans are wrong and that there is no evidence to justify prostatic cancer screening. However, it is wise to pause and think a moment about right and wrong when interpreting evidence, and recent articles on cholesterol screening in the United States clearly demonstrate how attitudes influence …