Primum Non Nocere: An Impossible Task in Medicine?

Authors

  • Michaela Moriarty

Keywords:

Primum non nocere, Overdiagnosis, Deprescribing, Decision-making

Abstract

  • Are clinicians growing overly cautious in the name of “avoiding harm”?
  • Overdiagnosis is a modern medical phenomenon underlied by expanded disease definitions, uncritical adoption of
  • population screening and fear of uncertainty and new technology.
  • International coordination is needed to improve current diagnostic standards and to promote effective deprescribing.
  • Sometimes, avoiding harm means avoiding action.

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References

1. Too much medicine [Internet]. BMJ. [cited 2023 Apr 27]. Available from: https://www.bmj.com/too-much-medicine

2. Järvinen TLN, Michaëlsson K, Jokihaara J, Collins GS, Perry TL, Mintzes B, et al. Overdiagnosis of bone fragility in the quest to prevent hip fracture [Internet]. BMJ. British Medical Journal Publishing Group; 2015 [cited 2023Apr27]. Available from: https://www.bmj.com/content/350/ bmj.h2088

3. Review deprescribing: A primary care perspective [Internet]. EJHP. [cited 2023 Apr 27]. Available from: https://ejhp.bmj.com/content/ ejhpharm/24/1/37.full.pdf

4. Luymes CH, Poortvliet RKE, van Geloven N, de Waal MWM, Drewes YM, Blom JW, et al. Deprescribing preventive cardiovascular medication in patients with predicted low cardiovascular disease risk in general practice - the ecstatic study: A cluster randomised non-inferiority trial [Internet]. BMC. U.S. National Library of Medicine; 2018 [cited 2023Apr28]. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5763574/

5. Marsh H. Do no harm: Tales of life, death and brain surgery. London, UK: Weidenfeld & Nicolson; 2014.

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Published

2025-07-16

How to Cite

Moriarty, M. (2025). Primum Non Nocere: An Impossible Task in Medicine?. Trinity Student Medical Journal , 23(1), 4–5. Retrieved from https://ojs.tchpc.tcd.ie/index.php/tsmj/article/view/3255

Issue

Vol. 23 No. 1 (2025): Trinity Student Medical Journal

Section

Perspectives

Categories

License

Copyright (c) 2025 Michaela Moriarty

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