| The old saying has it that if you have a hammer, you can only see nails. Similarly, if you visit a surgeon, he’ll suggest an operation.
An extreme example of this old adage has been uncovered at a hospital in California, which has been carrying out numerous cardiac operations that were completely unnecessary.
Forty agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation raided the hospital in 2002 following reports of up to 769 unnecessary procedures.
The hospital is owned by Tenet Healthcare, the second largest health provider in the USA, which has agreed to pay $500 million compensation to settle claims from patients and their families.
Perhaps we need to adapt the adage. If you have health insurance, you’re getting an operation.
(Source: British Medical Journal, 2006; 333: 59).
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