More than 220,000 Americans died of heart attacks in 2002 before they reached the hos­pital. More than 550,000 died of cancer that same year. Early detection could have changed their fates.

Why can’t you take Drug X ­instead of Drug Y, which your sister is on? ­Unless she’s your identical twin, your sister is bound to have a different genetic makeup. You might experience muscle aches with the same ­cholesterol drug that she tolerates well.

Why can’t doctors take the time to discuss why you need to take a specific medication, tests or therapies?