ABSTRACT
Information and views acquired through the screening process may influence a patient’s subsequent presentation to specialists after a diagnosis of prostate cancer. Hanna et al1 observed that the specialty of the physician to whom patients were initially referred reflected subsequent treatment. Fowler et al2 showed that individual oncologists and surgeons tend to favor the treatment they themselves deliver. These studies suggest potentially significant decisional bias. From the first healthcare contact, a patient’s involvement in decision-making may be influenced significantly by the patient-doctor relationship.
