%N 84 %D 2004 %T Information can kill %X Recent advances in understanding links between genes and the susceptibility to particular diseases have considerably increased the scope for predictive diagnosis. Methods. We analyse how the introduc- tion of predictive diagnosis affects patients�decisions to undergo medical screenings relying on a �rational choice�model. Findings. We show that predictive diagnosis can increase the number of fatalities from a deadly disease. Interpretation. Our result shows the necessity of careful further analysis and debate about the pros and cons of predictive diagnosis and the publication of medical research in general. %A S. Huck %A K.A. Konrad %I ESRC Centre for Economic Learning and Social Evolution %S ELSE Working Papers %C London, UK %L discovery14592