How to help patients make wiser health choices

There is a small but growing movement to get unbiased reports of the pros and cons of different tests and treatments into patients' hands before they fall back on, "Doc, just tell me what you'd choose." The trend goes a step beyond the brief patient education that doctors are required to provide. One state, Washington, has passed a law encouraging the trend. And it may get renewed attention in this era of healthcare reform because studies suggest that patients who get the full scoop frequently choose more conservative therapy than their doctors initially recommend.