Wired Health: ‘Early Diagnosis Often Benefits Science But Not The Patient’

Neurologist And Writer Suzanne O’Sullivan Spoke On The Concept Of ‘Overdiagnosis’

Early diagnosis can be “detrimental” to patients, Suzanne O'Sullivan, neurologist and author of “The Age of Diagnosis,” argued at the Wired Health conference on 18 March. "You save one life from screening 2,000 women for breast cancer, but you also treat 10 women unnecessarily," she said.

Nurse
(Shutterstock)

“Diagnosis is not inert. We measure [diagnosis] in the number of lives saved. But what happens to all those other people who are subjected to medical monitoring that they didn’t necessarily need?” Suzanne O’Sullivan, neurologist and author of “The Age of Diagnosis,” asked the audience at the Wired Health conference held in London on 18 March.

“The minute you turn a healthy [person] into a patient through screening, you affect their relationship with their body. You...

More from Conferences

Rising Oncology Start-ups Recognized For Breakthrough Cancer Research

 

The Cancer Research Horizons Innovation Awards took place on July 10. Medtech Insight spoke to nominees for the women’s entrepreneur of the year award: Mireia Crispin-Ortuzar, CEO of 52 North Health; Anita Grigoriadis, CEO of PharosAI; and Maria Giovanna Lizio, Founder of WILD-Imaging Technology.

Milner Pitch Day: Multiomic Pathology, Microcancer Avatars And Cell Morphology Intelligence

 

The Milner Institute, the on-campus hub for start-up acceleration at Cambridge University, hosted its annual Pitch Day on July 1. Start-ups Panakeia, PathwayBio and Sentinal4D presented diagnostic technologies.

‘Be Quick, But Don’t Hurry’: Dexcom CEO Talks CGM Market Success

 
• By 

Dexcom’s CEO Kevin Sayer discusses this fall’s planned launch of the 15-day G7 CGM, downplays Abbott’s dual-sensor while focusing on development of multi-analyte G8, making OTC Stelo app more “consumerish” for Europeans, and more.

Prix Galien Spotlights Mental Health ‘Renaissance’ But Systemic Hurdles Persist

 

Experts at the Prix Galien UK Forum discussed the future of mental health innovation, emphasizing the important roles of digital solutions, diagnostic biomarkers and community involvement.

More from Business

Israel Medtech Leader Considers Country’s ‘Early Lab Of The World’ Status

 
• By 

Entrepreneurialism is in the blood of Israel’s medtech innovators, but in a changing medtech world, the local ecosystem must address funding gaps and manufacturing and infrastructure needs. So says Ruti Alon, experienced Israeli medtech leader, investor and co-chair of the Biomed Israel conference.

Luna Health Raises $23.6M, Furthering Launch Of ‘World’s Smallest’ Insulin Pump

 

Luna Health has raised $23.6m in Series A funding to support regulatory submissions, clinical studies and manufacturing for its insulin patch pump.

Industry Experts Expect AI-Driven Medtech M&A To Continue In 2025

 
• By 

AI-driven medtech M&A slowed slightly in volume but tripled in value in early 2025, with buyers focusing on AI-driven diagnostics, surgical tech and analytics. Industry experts expect continued high-value deals as firms defend market share and pursue workflow-enhancing AI.