Treating the masses, overtreating the few

In the US, overly aggressive treatment is estimated to cause 30 000 deaths among Medicare recipients alone each year. Reporter Jeanne Lenzer has investigated the problem for the BMJ, and explains why she thinks profit driven healthcare is to blame. And, experience of treating rare conditions can take time to build. Rej Bhumbra, a surgical trainee in orthopaedic oncology, explains how his time in India fast tracked his learning.