To scan or not to scan; better ask your doctor
Imagine a medical procedure that costs less than $200, is painless and can tell if you have a tumor anywhere in your body, or a possible deadly swelling, narrowing or other internal abnormality.
I’ve been contacted by several consumers asking if the TV commercial offering medical body scans is legitimate. Simply put — yes, they are usually legitimate, but there is one BIG “be careful.”
Here it is: As a former health care/hospital administrator, I would remind you that these medical scans are only as good as the trained doctor who reads and interprets them. Many of the scanning services, once you’ve agreed to have the scan done, will then attempt to “upsell” you and offer to have a medical professional, sometimes a medical doctor, read your scan for a price. Sometimes the price is two or three times what the initial scan cost. My recommendation is talk to your doctor before having any medical scans done.
As important as the scan itself is the reading and interpretation of the scan. “False positives” and “false negatives” are the real dangers. A false positive may show something that isn’t there or is not a medical issue. Not to mention scaring the jeebers out of you, at worst you may rush to start medical treatment, drugs or even surgery that isn’t necessary and could be harmful or even life-threatening. Surgery should only be done when absolutely necessary. False negatives, on the other hand, overlook a problem and make you feel like everything is good, even when it may not be, lulling you into a false sense of security.
The key is to consult with your doctor before undergoing any medical scan. Your doctor will ensure any body scan, X-ray, MRI or CAT scan is read correctly and followed up with appropriate medical care and consultation.
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The “IRS is calling” scam continues to be a major problem for consumers in our area. Even your humble Consumer Guy was targeted by these crooks this week. I immediately reported the contact by going to the U.S. Treasury Department website and reporting the contact including the telephone number the call came from. My scammer called from the Washington, D.C., area, trying to make the call appear legitimate. Here’s the website to report this activity to:
https://www.treasury.gov/Tigta/contact_report_scam.shtml
QUICK TIP: Not all cashier’s checks and bank-issued checks are legitimate. Many scam artists and thieves will send or deliver to you a counterfeit cashier or bank check and “buy” your car, boat or snowmobile. Once they have the title or bill of sale, they disappear. The check you deposited is returned as counterfeit and you’re out of luck.
Call the issuing bank before handing over a bill of sale or title and depositing the check. If it’s counterfeit, immediately call the police. A friend of mine almost lost two snowmobiles and a very expensive trailer. These thieves often target Craigslist sellers.
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I have many more interesting cases that I’m working on as The CDA Press Consumer Guy. Call me, (208) 449-7222, email me CDAPressConsumerGuy @gmail.com or fax me at (866) 362-9266. Also include your full name and a phone number.
I am available to speak to local groups or gatherings; just give me a call. I will be speaking at the breakfast meeting of the Cd'A Pachyderm group at 7 a.m. at the Coeur d’Alene IHOP on Friday, Feb. 24.
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Bill Brooks is the CDA Press Consumer Guy. He is an active Associate Real Estate Broker for Tomlinson-Sotheby’s International Realty in Coeur d’Alene.