Overtreated (broadcast Friday, October 12th, 2007)

Is too much medicine making us sicker? Author Shannon Brownlee argues in her new book, "Overtreated," that the economics of health care is upside down, leading to excessive treatment, unnecessary hospital stays, and unneeded tests and prescriptions. Overuse of high-tech tests and treatments leads to more money for doctors and hospitals, she says, and also results in a less efficient, more costly system that could even be hazardous to patients. Ira talks with Shannon Brownlee in this segment.