‘He thought what he was doing was good for people.’ Why is it so difficult to prevent unnecessary medical procedures in the U.S. health-care system?

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‘He thought what he was doing was good for people.’ Why is it so difficult to prevent unnecessary medical procedures in the U.S. health-care system?

September 1, 2021

Outcalt C. The Atlantic. August 2021.

Overuse and unnecessary care lead to serious patient harms and a cascade of negative consequences. This story describes the overuse behavior of one surgeon to illustrate influences contributing to the problem.

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‘He thought what he was doing was good for people.’ Why is it so difficult to prevent unnecessary medical procedures in the U.S. health-care system?

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