To the Editor Katz1 brilliantly showed why a rigorous informed consent about prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing cannot be a realistic solution to prevent people from PSA testing harms.
Sadly, experience from France confirms his analysis. The guideline by the French National Cancer Institute (Institut National du Cancer [INCA]) flies in the face of evidence, advising “The decision to screen for this cancer (prostate) is taken on a case by case basis after discussion with his physician or urologist” (www.e-cancer.fr/cancerinfo/les-cancers/cancers-de-la-prostate/le-depistage). So does the French National Authority for Health (Haute Autorité de Santé, in charge of the quality of patient care), which states “Screening for prostate cancer should be a dialogue between a man and his doctor.”2