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Re:Man saves wife’s sight by 3D printing her brain tumor by carbocation on Wednesday January 14, 2015 @09:39AM (#8886459)
Historically I have fallen into the "don't do unnecessary tests" camp, but I would be willing to consider an alternative viewpoint. Perhaps what is needed is continuous monitoring of biochemical data from volunteers longitudinally to help us understand if any of that data is actionable in a way that reduces suffering or prolongs life. I think the right sensors have not yet been invented for this purpose, but they are probably getting close.
Re:Man saves wife’s sight by 3D printing her brain tumor by emcrazyone on Wednesday January 14, 2015 @09:42AM (#8886477)
You're not alone. I agree with you and a very wealthy friend of mine who owns his own company bought an MRI machine for his employees and had it installed in the building he owns.
Re:Man saves wife’s sight by 3D printing her brain tumor by jepper on Wednesday January 14, 2015 @09:54AM (#8886564)
paradoxically there is also a risk involved with false positive diagnosis (be it unnecessary procedures, CT scans, surgeries, anxiety etc.) Also the detection window can be small from detectable to symptomatic for (especially) aggressive tumors. An example is the very difficult discussion on general population mamma carcinoma (breast cancer) or colon cancer screenings.

However being well informed and questioning everything is the very best way to be a patient.

Re:Man saves wife’s sight by 3D printing her brain tumor by artmageddon on Wednesday January 14, 2015 @01:16PM (#8887977)
Wait, does he actually run a medical firm that is licensed to use the MRI machine, or did he just buy one outright? I was told that people couldn't just buy one, you had to represent some kind of medical entity to be able to purchase one.
Re:Man saves wife’s sight by 3D printing her brain tumor by kaybe on Wednesday January 14, 2015 @01:25PM (#8888030)
Did they give a reason?

I can't think of really bad stuff to do with it (except very locally to my own building, and it's not like those are very mobile), and except maybe impersonate a medical entity and rip people off.