NY Times: Gina Kolata’s scoop–a follow-up (and a nod to the WaPo)
A month ago, Gina Kolata had an exclusive front-page story in The New York Times saying that the American Cancer Society was secretly revising its guidelines on screening for breast and prostate cancer. As I noted in a post at the time, the American Cancer Society denied any such stealth plan.
Kolata’s exclusive, at least regarding breast cancer, now looks misguided. The government’s announcement this week that women in their 40s should no longer get mammograms has provoked widespread controversy and argument.
But contrary to what Kolata predicted, the American Cancer Society has not changed its guidelines. It has vigorously defended them.
Meanwhile, the news is full of predictable reaction stories this morning–nobody much likes the new guidelines. The Washington Post instead produced a very nice piece putting the controversy in context. Who remembered that the same recommendation was proposed in 1997, with similar consequences? Kudos to Dan Eggen and Rob Stein.
- Paul Raeburn
