Some Guidelines for Avoiding Unnecessary Surgery
Philadelphia Bulletin reports:
For example, he says that 90 percent of all hysterectomies don’t meet clinical guidelines, the best evidence of quality medicine. This means that about 90 percent may be unnecessary. He says that 50 percent of Caesarian sections, 50 percent of prostate removals and 33 percent of heart bypass surgeries are unnecessary. In addition, Mr. Inlander and other medical authorities say that there are many other operations that produce high rates of unnecessary surgery, such as those for removal of cataracts. (See my “Shopper’s Guide to Cataract Surgery” at thedenenbergreport.org.)
Mr. Inlander says the medical profession is in denial and will not admit the significance of the issue. He also says the medical profession will not disclose the facts on unnecessary surgery and other health-care misadventures. Change will come about by consumers demanding information and reform, and that takes strong and sustained pressure.
The big money is in surgery, and the more invasive, the more profitable. You can’t make much telling someone they don’t need surgery, but the sky is the limit when it comes to surgery. That’s where the big bucks are, and that’s one of the great drivers of the entire health delivery system. The big bucks are not in telling patients to exercise, handle stress, eat healthy foods and make all the lifestyle changes that are the key to good health. The big money is in the high-tech, high-cost, high-risk and highly invasive. Surgery is the perfect example of that.
Herb Denenberg, is a professor at the Wharton School, is a longtime Philadelphia journalist and consumer advocate. He is also a member of the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences. His column appears daily in The Bulletin.