Episodes
| Episode | Title | First Broadcast | Repeated | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Huntington's Disease | 20250317 | 20250318 (R4) |  A thought-provoking new book from the neurologist and award-winning author Suzanne O'Sullivan, asking whether our culture of medical diagnosis can harm, rather than help us. The boundaries between sickness and health are being redrawn. Mental health categories are shifting and expanding, radically altering what we consider to be 'normal'. Genetic tests can now detect pathologies decades before people experience symptoms, and sometimes before they're even born. And increased health screening draws more and more people into believing they are unwell. An accurate diagnosis can bring greater understanding and of course improved treatment. But many diagnoses aren't as definitive as we think. And in some cases they risk turning healthy people into patients. Drawing on the stories of real people, as well as decades of clinical practice and the latest medical research, Dr Suzanne O'Sullivan overturns long held assumptions and reframes how we think about illness and health. Today: why do those at risk from Huntington's Disease tend not to test for whether they have this debilitating condition? Reader: Brid Brennan Writer: Dr Suzanne O'Sullivan has been a consultant in neurology since 2004, specialising in the investigation of complex epilepsy, as well as an award-winning author. Her first book It's All in Your Head, won both the Wellcome Book Prize and the Royal Society of Biology Book Prize. Abridger: Katrin Williams Producer: Justine Willett A thought-provoking new book exploding conventional wisdom about medical diagnoses. Why do those at risk of Huntington's Disease tend not to test to find out whether they have it? The first in a new book exploding conventional wisdom about medical diagnoses. |
| 01 | Huntington's Disease | 20250317 | A thought-provoking new book from the neurologist and award-winning author Suzanne O'Sullivan, asking whether our culture of medical diagnosis can harm, rather than help us. The boundaries between sickness and health are being redrawn. Mental health categories are shifting and expanding, radically altering what we consider to be 'normal'. Genetic tests can now detect pathologies decades before people experience symptoms, and sometimes before they're even born. And increased health screening draws more and more people into believing they are unwell. An accurate diagnosis can bring greater understanding and of course improved treatment. But many diagnoses aren't as definitive as we think. And in some cases they risk turning healthy people into patients. Drawing on the stories of real people, as well as decades of clinical practice and the latest medical research, Dr Suzanne O'Sullivan overturns long held assumptions and reframes how we think about illness and health. Today: why do those at risk from Huntington's Disease tend not to test for whether they have this debilitating condition? Reader: Brid Brennan Writer: Dr Suzanne O'Sullivan has been a consultant in neurology since 2004, specialising in the investigation of complex epilepsy, as well as an award-winning author. Her first book It's All in Your Head, won both the Wellcome Book Prize and the Royal Society of Biology Book Prize. Abridger: Katrin Williams Producer: Justine Willett A thought-provoking new book exploding conventional wisdom about medical diagnoses. Why do those at risk of Huntington's Disease tend not to test to find out whether they have it? The first in a new book exploding conventional wisdom about medical diagnoses. | |
| 02 | 2: Long Covid | 20250318 |
The thought-provoking new book from the neurologist and award-winning author Suzanne O'Sullivan, asking whether our culture of medical diagnosis can harm, rather than help us.
The boundaries between sickness and health are being redrawn. Mental health categories are shifting and expanding, radically altering what we consider to be 'normal'. Genetic tests can now detect pathologies decades before people experience symptoms, and sometimes before they're even born. And increased health screening draws more and more people into believing they are unwell.
An accurate diagnosis can bring greater understanding and of course improved treatment. But many diagnoses aren't as definitive as we think. And in some cases they risk turning healthy people into patients. Drawing on the stories of real people, as well as decades of clinical practice and the latest medical research, Dr Suzanne O'Sullivan overturns long held assumptions and reframes how we think about illness and health.
Today: What are the roots of long Covid? And how did the condition come to be diagnosed by patients via social media rather than by scientists?
Reader: Brid Brennan
A thought-provoking new book asking whether our culture of medical diagnosis is harming us A thought-provoking new book exploding conventional wisdom about medical diagnoses. How did long Covid come to be diagnosed by patients rather than scientists? The next in a thought-provoking new book exploding conventional wisdom on medical diagnoses.
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| 02 | Long Covid | 20250318 | 20250319 (R4) | The thought-provoking new book from the neurologist and award-winning author Suzanne O'Sullivan, asking whether our culture of medical diagnosis can harm, rather than help us. The boundaries between sickness and health are being redrawn. Mental health categories are shifting and expanding, radically altering what we consider to be 'normal'. Genetic tests can now detect pathologies decades before people experience symptoms, and sometimes before they're even born. And increased health screening draws more and more people into believing they are unwell. An accurate diagnosis can bring greater understanding and of course improved treatment. But many diagnoses aren't as definitive as we think. And in some cases they risk turning healthy people into patients. Drawing on the stories of real people, as well as decades of clinical practice and the latest medical research, Dr Suzanne O'Sullivan overturns long held assumptions and reframes how we think about illness and health. Today: What are the roots of long Covid? And how did the condition come to be diagnosed by patients via social media rather than by scientists? Reader: Brid Brennan Writer: Dr Suzanne O'Sullivan has been a consultant in neurology since 2004, specialising in the investigation of complex epilepsy, as well as an award-winning author. Her first book It's All in Your Head, won both the Wellcome Book Prize and the Royal Society of Biology Book Prize. Abridger: Katrin Williams Producer: Justine Willett A thought-provoking new book asking whether our culture of medical diagnosis is harming us A thought-provoking new book exploding conventional wisdom about medical diagnoses. How did long Covid come to be diagnosed by patients rather than scientists? The next in a thought-provoking new book exploding conventional wisdom on medical diagnoses. |
| 03 | 3: Autism | 20250319 |
The thought-provoking new book from the neurologist and award-winning author Suzanne O'Sullivan, asking whether our culture of medical diagnosis can harm rather than help us.
The boundaries between sickness and health are being redrawn. Mental health categories are shifting and expanding, radically altering what we consider to be 'normal'. Genetic tests can now detect pathologies decades before people experience symptoms, and sometimes before they're even born. And increased health screening draws more and more people into believing they are unwell.
An accurate diagnosis can bring greater understanding and of course improved treatment. But many diagnoses aren't as definitive as we think. And in some cases they risk turning healthy people into patients. Drawing on the stories of real people, as well as decades of clinical practice and the latest medical research, Dr Suzanne O'Sullivan overturns long held assumptions and reframes how we think about illness and health.
Today: What effect is the rise in diagnoses of autism having on those with severe autism?
Reader: Brid Brennan
A thought-provoking new book exploding conventional wisdom around medical diagnoses. A thought-provoking new book exploding conventional wisdom about medical diagnoses. What effect is the rise in diagnoses of autism having on those with severe autism? The next in a thought-provoking book on our culture of over-diagnosis in medicine.
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| 03 | Autism | 20250319 | 20250320 (R4) | The thought-provoking new book from the neurologist and award-winning author Suzanne O'Sullivan, asking whether our culture of medical diagnosis can harm rather than help us. The boundaries between sickness and health are being redrawn. Mental health categories are shifting and expanding, radically altering what we consider to be 'normal'. Genetic tests can now detect pathologies decades before people experience symptoms, and sometimes before they're even born. And increased health screening draws more and more people into believing they are unwell. An accurate diagnosis can bring greater understanding and of course improved treatment. But many diagnoses aren't as definitive as we think. And in some cases they risk turning healthy people into patients. Drawing on the stories of real people, as well as decades of clinical practice and the latest medical research, Dr Suzanne O'Sullivan overturns long held assumptions and reframes how we think about illness and health. Today: What effect is the rise in diagnoses of autism having on those with severe autism? Reader: Brid Brennan Writer: Dr Suzanne O'Sullivan has been a consultant in neurology since 2004, specialising in the investigation of complex epilepsy, as well as an award-winning author. Her first book It's All in Your Head, won both the Wellcome Book Prize and the Royal Society of Biology Book Prize. Abridger: Katrin Williams Producer: Justine Willett A thought-provoking new book exploding conventional wisdom around medical diagnoses. A thought-provoking new book exploding conventional wisdom about medical diagnoses. What effect is the rise in diagnoses of autism having on those with severe autism? The next in a thought-provoking book on our culture of over-diagnosis in medicine. |
| 04 | 4: The Cancer Gene | 20250320 |
A thought-provoking new book from the neurologist and award-winning author Suzanne O'Sullivan, asking whether our culture of medical diagnosis can harm, rather than help us.
The boundaries between sickness and health are being redrawn. Mental health categories are shifting and expanding, radically altering what we consider to be 'normal'. Genetic tests can now detect pathologies decades before people experience symptoms, and sometimes before they're even born. And increased health screening draws more and more people into believing they are unwell.
An accurate diagnosis can bring greater understanding and of course improved treatment. But many diagnoses aren't as definitive as we think. And in some cases they risk turning healthy people into patients. Drawing on the stories of real people, as well as decades of clinical practice and the latest medical research, Dr Suzanne O'Sullivan overturns long held assumptions and reframes how we think about illness and health.
Today: Is the diagnosis of some cancers through screening resulting in unnecessary treatment?
Reader: Brid Brennan
The next in a thought-provoking book that questions our culture of medical over-diagnosis. A thought-provoking new book exploding conventional wisdom about medical diagnoses. Is the diagnosis of some cancers through screening resulting in unnecessary treatment? The next in a thought-provoking book looking at our culture of medical over-diagnosis.
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| 04 | The Cancer Gene | 20250320 | 20250321 (R4) | A thought-provoking new book from the neurologist and award-winning author Suzanne O'Sullivan, asking whether our culture of medical diagnosis can harm, rather than help us. The boundaries between sickness and health are being redrawn. Mental health categories are shifting and expanding, radically altering what we consider to be 'normal'. Genetic tests can now detect pathologies decades before people experience symptoms, and sometimes before they're even born. And increased health screening draws more and more people into believing they are unwell. An accurate diagnosis can bring greater understanding and of course improved treatment. But many diagnoses aren't as definitive as we think. And in some cases they risk turning healthy people into patients. Drawing on the stories of real people, as well as decades of clinical practice and the latest medical research, Dr Suzanne O'Sullivan overturns long held assumptions and reframes how we think about illness and health. Today: Is the diagnosis of some cancers through screening resulting in unnecessary treatment? Reader: Brid Brennan Writer: Dr Suzanne O'Sullivan has been a consultant in neurology since 2004, specialising in the investigation of complex epilepsy, as well as an award-winning author. Her first book It's All in Your Head, won both the Wellcome Book Prize and the Royal Society of Biology Book Prize. Abridger: Katrin Williams Producer: Justine Willett The next in a thought-provoking book that questions our culture of medical over-diagnosis. A thought-provoking new book exploding conventional wisdom about medical diagnoses. Is the diagnosis of some cancers through screening resulting in unnecessary treatment? The next in a thought-provoking book looking at our culture of medical over-diagnosis. |
| 05 | 5: The Future | 20250321 |
A thought-provoking new book from the neurologist and award-winning author Suzanne O'Sullivan, asking whether our culture of medical diagnosis can harm, rather than help us.
The boundaries between sickness and health are being redrawn. Mental health categories are shifting and expanding, radically altering what we consider to be 'normal'. Genetic tests can now detect pathologies decades before people experience symptoms, and sometimes before they're even born. And increased health screening draws more and more people into believing they are unwell.
An accurate diagnosis can bring greater understanding and of course improved treatment. But many diagnoses aren't as definitive as we think. And in some cases they risk turning healthy people into patients. Drawing on the stories of real people, as well as decades of clinical practice and the latest medical research, Dr Suzanne O'Sullivan overturns long held assumptions and reframes how we think about illness and health.
Today: O'Sullivan ask what good care looks like, and looks to a future that leaves medical diagnosis to only those who are truly sick.
Reader: Brid Brennan
The final part of a thought-provoking book questioning overdiagnosis in medicine. A thought-provoking new book exploding conventional wisdom about medical diagnoses. What does good care look like? The final part of O'Sullivan's thought-provoking book questioning our culture of medical diagnosis, which, she fears, can harm rather than help.
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| 05 | The Future | 20250321 | 20250322 (R4) | A thought-provoking new book from the neurologist and award-winning author Suzanne O'Sullivan, asking whether our culture of medical diagnosis can harm, rather than help us. The boundaries between sickness and health are being redrawn. Mental health categories are shifting and expanding, radically altering what we consider to be 'normal'. Genetic tests can now detect pathologies decades before people experience symptoms, and sometimes before they're even born. And increased health screening draws more and more people into believing they are unwell. An accurate diagnosis can bring greater understanding and of course improved treatment. But many diagnoses aren't as definitive as we think. And in some cases they risk turning healthy people into patients. Drawing on the stories of real people, as well as decades of clinical practice and the latest medical research, Dr Suzanne O'Sullivan overturns long held assumptions and reframes how we think about illness and health. Today: O'Sullivan ask what good care looks like, and looks to a future that leaves medical diagnosis to only those who are truly sick. Reader: Brid Brennan Writer: Dr Suzanne O'Sullivan has been a consultant in neurology since 2004, specialising in the investigation of complex epilepsy, as well as an award-winning author. Her first book It's All in Your Head, won both the Wellcome Book Prize and the Royal Society of Biology Book Prize. Abridger: Katrin Williams Producer: Justine Willett The final part of a thought-provoking book questioning overdiagnosis in medicine. A thought-provoking new book exploding conventional wisdom about medical diagnoses. What does good care look like? The final part of O'Sullivan's thought-provoking book questioning our culture of medical diagnosis, which, she fears, can harm rather than help. |