Applying the precautionary principle to breast cancer screening: implications to public health

This article discusses the Precautionary Principle to strengthen Quaternary Prevention when dealing with additive preventive measures such as breast cancer screening. According to Geoffrey Rose additive preventive measures are generally professional-led interventions that are alien to human ecology, economy, and physiology. These include drugs, vaccines and other biological, physical, and chemical products. Additive preventive measures can produce harm without potential benefit since most individuals are asymptomatic (healthy) and not destined to become sick in the future. Consequently, additive preventive measures cannot be considered safe and policymakers are accountable for providing evidence of their net benefit.

• Applying the precautionary principle to breast cancer screening: implications to public health. Tesser CD, Norman AH, Gérvas J. Cad Saude Publica. 2019 Jul 22;35(7):e00048319. doi: 10.1590/0102-311X00048319. Download article here.

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