Journalist delves into healthcare's conflict of interest

Kaiser Health News published an interesting article about a journalist's quest to find better sleep. After the diagnosis, doctors recommended expensive testing. The journalist had previously "spent years covering the business of health care" and wrote about some conflicts of interest by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, which determines the criteria for sleep apnea.

In some ways, the conflict of interest might seem unavoidable. As an analogy, the American Dental Association is perhaps in the best position to publish guidelines on how frequently patients should come in for regular cleanings; at the same time, the association's members benefit financially if the association promotes a more frequent cleaning schedule. This article indicates that the American Academy of Sleep Medicine claims that every adult who is affected by five relatively common conditions should be screened for sleep apnea every year. Interestingly, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, an organization that grades the effectiveness of preventive care, seems to think that the American Academy of Sleep Medicine's recommendation for screening is too broad. Additionally, the author noted that his cost-effective treatment was never broached by the specialists that he saw: sleeping on his side. It is perhaps understandable that doctors might want a more comprehensive solution, but it seems that doctors should offer various treatment options and allow patients to make an informed decision. With both of these issues (screening guidelines and the broaching of various treatment options), it seems that professional organizations have conflicts of interest.