A Healthy Debate
    NOW
    t r u t h o u t | Programming Note

    Airdate: Friday, June 8, 2007 at 8:30 p.m. EDT on PBS.
    (Check local listings at http://www.pbs.org/now/sched.html.)

Are some medical procedures more about profit than about patients? This time on NOW.

    In 2006, Americans spent at least $14 billion on procedures involving coronary stents - little tubes that open clogged arteries to the heart. But, according to the FDA, there's no evidence that stents significantly reduce the risk of future heart attacks. Now, a major study from a top cardiologist is suggesting that many procedures prescribed for chest pains are overused. On Friday, June 8, at 8:30 p.m. (check local listings), NOW investigates the facts behind coronary procedures and finds - to no surprise - that money is as much an issue as medicine.

    "There's no question that coronary intervention is big business. There is a lot of money involved in this," researcher Dr. James Ferguson tells NOW. "And this gets everybody very nervous. And very upset. And very passionate."