Neurologist Suzanne O’Sullivan Warns About Overdiagnosis

Neurologist Suzanne O’Sullivan argues that modern healthcare’s overdiagnosis trend is harming rather than helping patients. In her book The Age of Diagnosis, she highlights alarming statistics like a 787% increase in autism diagnoses in the UK between 1998 and 2018 and the overdiagnosis of Lyme disease. 

She believes doctors are labeling symptoms without addressing root causes, leading to unnecessary treatments and worsening conditions, including mental health. O’Sullivan stresses the dangers of early detection, particularly in cancer screening where overtreatment often outweighs benefits. She advocates for a more thoughtful approach to diagnosis and treatment.

“If you’re going to go for screening—and I don’t want people not to go for the suggested screenings—you do need to understand the uncertainties and realize you don’t have to panic.”