The NIH and CDC have recognized this and millions of research dollars are now being directed towards prevention.

A recurring theme of today’s presentation, though, is the view that interventions are not always guaranteed to work or to save money. All of the emphasis on prevention today should not preclude serious scientific debate.

A common perception is that prevention programs are automatically safe because you are seeking to prevent disease. Some interventions, though, may have side effects that cause harm. As an example, although treatment with tamoxifen has been show to reduce breast cancer, it also carries an increased risk of endometrial cancer. Another example is airbags and their risk to children.