A broad coalition of physician and consumer advocacy groups is releasing a list of dozens of medical tests, treatments and procedures they say are unnecessary, expensive and even harmful.
The 90 procedures considered to be needless are twice the number compiled on a similar list just last year.
The list is part of a campaign launched by the American Board of Internal Medicine called "Choosing Wisely," aimed at discouraging doctors from performing such treatments that have become common practice, but are also driving up health-care costs in the United States.
The suggestions were submitted by the professional societies more than a dozen medical specialties, including pediatrics, geriatrics and ophthalmology.
Among the common procedures medical experts are urging doctors to avoid include giving heartburn medicine to babies suffering from acid reflux, and prompting a woman to undergo labor if she is still pregnant past her predicted delivery date.