'Should a mammographic screening programme carry the warning: Screening can damage your health!'?

The balanced presentation afforded by convening a Citizens' Jury when consi dering a major question such as the introduction of a breast screening prog ramme is advocated. This method would enable account to be taken of all the costs, both human and financial, to all those affected, both participating and organizing, as well as the benefits. Provision of such a democratic opportunity enables consideration to be give n to a broad range of factors, by selection of an appropriate range of witn esses, with the advantage of involving the lay public in this decision-maki ng process. Attendance by health correspondents, medical journalists and ot her media representatives enables publicization of a democracy in action wh ilst helping to inform the wider debate. Such an exercise could inform whet her the NHS BSP should continue in its current form.