In Wilson and Jungner's classic criteria for a disease to be suitable for mass screening, which criterion specifically addresses the ethical dimension of early detection?
- A The condition should be an important health problem
- B An accepted treatment must be available for patients with the disease ✓
- C The natural history of the condition should be adequately understood
- D The cost of case-finding should be balanced against expenditure on medical care
Correct answer: B. An accepted treatment must be available for patients with the disease
Explanation
The requirement that an accepted treatment must exist is the ethical cornerstone of screening criteria: it is unethical to screen (diagnose) patients for conditions that cannot be treated. Early detection without effective treatment only prolongs the period of anxiety and 'sickness identity' without changing outcomes — causing harm rather than benefit. This directly addresses the ethical justification for screening. The other criteria are practical or epidemiological in nature, not specifically ethical.
Reference: Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine, 27th ed.
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