Not just from a cost perspective: overuse of imaging, particularly in orthopedic medicine, is apparently a major driver of iatrogenesis in American medicine. It actively does harm.

surely your mean related over treatment or intervention. I am not aware of any adverse health consequences from MRI itself. CT has clear downsides.

That said, there is a pretty big difference between screening and elective medicine.

I don't think the term "elective medicine" means anything useful in this conversation. But, yes: I'm referring to unnecessary surgeries consequent to MRI; a big problem, especially for stuff like knees and spines.

eh, If I have elected to undergo a procedure, I would want the best and most imaging possible.

I dont see data as the problem, but the decision making around it. Preventing the generation of data may be a solution, but I dont care for it as a strategy.

"Elective" medicine is simply medicine that can be scheduled in advance. The opposite of "elective" is "emergency". Plenty of elective procedures are not in any meaningful sense optional.

I feel we are quibbling about terminology instead of the central point. Feel free to substitute discretionary procedures if that is clearer, although nearly all medicine is discretionary (elective or emergency).

Right, I was just clarifying that the term "elective" isn't going to be useful for the conversation we're having.

fair. I was thinking of elective procedures, but that is a poor juxtaposition with screening, which is also elective.