I'm researching medical charges in Shanghai and Beijing.

I've been told some international health centers have, in the past, performed ultrasounds for patients presenting the symptoms of appendicitis and even MRI scans, which should never be routine.

Also, has anyone been kept in hospital after an operation longer than they thought they needed or longer than they would have in their home countries?

ChelseaGirlChina wrote:I've been told some international health centers have, in the past, performed ultrasounds for patients presenting the symptoms of appendicitis and even MRI scans, which should never be routine.

This is a practice which is common in a lot of the local hospitals. I have never heard about this happening in any of the international clinics in the 16 years that I have been here. Sure there always people who complain about everything, but bear in mind that for most treatments which are special, the health insurances have to give their authorization. I just had an MRI scan myself today, which had to be justified in detail by my doctor to the insurance, before they gave the green light.

ultrasounds are actually pretty routine for diagnosis of appendicitis, especially in children. MRI can be useful, especially in pregnant patients or in patients who have been exposed to a lot of radiation in the past from CT scans. while i'm sure excess testing occurs, in part to protect from malpractice and in part to generate billing, i suspect a lot of what you might think is unnecessary actually has a good justification.

I've noticed a number of local doctors are very quick to suggest invasive surgery as the first option in situations where something simpler like rest, rehab, and a knee brace was also an option. If you ever hear your doctor suggesting something weird that sounds completely unnecessary, don't hesitate to get a second opinion.

I had mono(nucleosis) when I was in in Beijing 6 years ago. Swollen lymph nodes, tired, all of the typical symptoms. I went to an international clinic in Beijing and was told to to come back every day for a week to take different "tests." They were throwing words around like "tumor" and "surgery." I eventually went back to the States untreated, and my doctor practically diagnosed me in 5 minutes after only asking a few questions. A few steroid medications later and I was fine.

Unnecessary, high-cost medical tests? Happens all the time in America. The most over-tested and over-treated patients in the world. Talk to European doctors - they'll tell you that US doctors are c**p and s**t - or unethical to be exact, bcos they know that all those tests that they prescribe are unnecessary.