Population Screening Act: risk model studied during screening for colorectal cancer

The Committee on Population Screening of the Health Council of the Netherlands advises the Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport (VWS) not to grant the requested permit of the Academic Medical Centre (AMC) in Amsterdam for scientific research into a risk model, within the context of the national screening programme for colorectal cancer. In the risk model, the results of the stool test are combined with other information into a risk score. The Committee has been unable to assess the scientific validity of the research proposal. Moreover, the Committee considers that the benefits of the research proposal do not clearly outweigh the risks to the participants.