The phrase "a harmful procedure" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a procedure that causes damage or has negative effects, often in medical or technical contexts.
Example: "The study revealed that a harmful procedure was being used in the treatment of patients, leading to serious complications."
Alternatives: "a detrimental process" or "a damaging method."
The excessive administration of 0.9% NaCl leading to chloride or dilutional acidosis being a potentially harmful procedure in the context of fluid therapy has been a primary focus of the debate [ 83, 84].
These trials of STA-MCA bypass and carotid endarterectomy have led to better understanding of the basic mechanisms of stroke, elimination of a harmful surgical procedure, promotion of another procedure, and provision of evidence for tailoring the findings to individual patients [ 10].
The World Health Organisation broadened its definition of FGM to include "all harmful procedures to female genitalia for non-medical purposes" including "pricking and piercing".
The German labs (Giessen, Munich, Münster and Mannheim) did not need formal approval of the study by governmental authorities, because the study did not involve any harmful procedures.
Minimising PR is recommendable, as colonoscopy is an unpleasant and potentially harmful procedure, and accounts for a relevant part (about 50%) of total screening costs (Castiglione et al, 1997).
Since the introduction of a pulmonary artery catheter remains an invasive and potentially harmful procedure, there is growing evidence to suggest that transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) should be used to identify the cardiac origin of respiratory weaning failure [ 4].
Now, 38 years later and often treating three and sometimes four generations of the same family, I see no reason to advise people to undergo what I view as a painful, costly and potentially harmful procedure in the name of prevention.
It is remarkable that this unproven and potentially harmful procedure remains firmly entrenched in consensus recommendations and protocols.
An invasive diagnostic test such as OLB can be considered but it is not clear which patient subset will benefit from this potentially harmful procedure.
Those reasons may include saving a patient from unnecessary and potentially harmful procedures, saving a patient from spending money for ineffective treatment and perhaps even saving the health care system dollars to be spent (wisely we hope) for other patients.
