Regular screening tests are cash cows for the medical community. My father's health insurance offered him $25 for getting a Medicare Wellness Exam, which we thought was an annual physical. His doctor said a proctoscopy was required in order to code it as a Medicare Wellness Exam and neither of us thought that was necessary for an 89 year old with mobility issues. We opted to code it as a physical and had to pay for it ourselves. Dumb.

Refusing routine medical tests is never well recieved by the healthcare comunity. It is very important to obtain as much information and choose what may be the most helpful for the individual and the general overall health of the patient. For example regular breast examinations are sensible and useful at any age. Does an older patient really need a colonoscopy when there are no risk factors and ocult blood tests are normal? If the patient finds it reassuring and understands the risks by all means continue but if an elder has to be dragged kicking and screaming it is their right to refuse and that should be respected