Profit affects doctors' treatment decisions
Many aspects of US society today are organized under the assumption that if every individual pursues what is in his/her best <i>financial</i> interest, the "invisible hand of the free market" will produce the best possible outcome for everyone.<p>Yet here we have reputable doctors acting in their self interest, and the result is that they are ordering unnecessary surgeries for financial gain.  Meanwhile, patients are essentially unable to protect themselves against this travesty.<p>Maybe in this case the invisible hand cannot be seen because it is not there?