--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Greed plays a role in causing unnecessary…" description: "\"Greed plays a role in causing unnecessary surgery, although I don't think the economic motive alone is enough to explain it. There's no doubt that if y..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/822/robert-s-mendelsohn-44054_doubt_greed-plays-a-role-in-causing-unnecessar_1576230.jpg" --- # Greed plays a role in causing unnecessary surgery… ![“Greed plays a role in causing unnecessary surgery, although I don't think the economic motive alone is enough to explain it. There's no doubt that if you eliminated all unnecessary surgery, most surgeons would go out of business. They'd have to look for honest work, because the surgeon gets paid…” quote by Robert S. Mendelsohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/822/robert-s-mendelsohn-44054_doubt_greed-plays-a-role-in-causing-unnecessar_1576230.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/822/robert-s-mendelsohn-44054_doubt_greed-plays-a-role-in-causing-unnecessar_1576230.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/822/robert-s-mendelsohn-44054_doubt_greed-plays-a-role-in-causing-unnecessar_1576230.jpg) > “Greed plays a role in causing unnecessary surgery, although I don't think the economic motive alone is enough to explain it. There's no doubt that if you eliminated all unnecessary surgery, most surgeons would go out of business. They'd have to look for honest work, because the surgeon gets paid when he performs surgery on you, not when you're treated some other way. In pre-paid group practices where surgeons are paid a steady salary not tied to how many operations they perform, hysterectomies and tonsillectomies occur only about one-third as often as in fee-for-service situations.” [Robert S. Mendelsohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-s-mendelsohn/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Highlights that financial incentives drive unnecessary surgeries, but other factors also contribute, implying systemic reform is needed. **In simple terms:** Money pushes doctors to do extra surgeries. Key Takeaway Address incentives to reduce over‑treatment. Themes healthcare ethics economics Mood concerned analytical Type ethical policy When to use this quote - hospital policy revisions - insurance reforms - patient education Key Concepts incentive structures patient safety systemic bias Questions to Reflect On - What policies could align surgeon pay with patient health? - How can patients advocate against unnecessary procedures? A Different Perspective Changing incentives alone may not change entrenched practices. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Doubt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doubt/) [Greed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greed/) [Health](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/health/) [Honest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honest/) [Honest work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honest-work/) [Motive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motive/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Practice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/practice/) [Surgeons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surgeons/) [Surgery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surgery/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [We . . . must try to live without causing unnecessary harm, not just to fellow humans but to all beings. We must try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-snyder/we-must-try-to-live-without-causing-unnecessary-harm-not-just-to/) [Gary Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-snyder/) > [“If we can live well without causing unnecessary harm, why wouldn’t we?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-baur/if-we-can-live-well-without-causing-unnecessary-harm-why-wouldn-t-we/) [Gene Baur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-baur/) > [Morality has in the past made progress when we broadened the category of things we weren't permitted to harm (animals, 'infidels'); saw through some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-wilson/morality-has-in-the-past-made-progress-when-we-broadened-the-category/) [Catherine Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-wilson/) > [“Fuck the miracle of life, where do I sign up for a hysterectomy?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-duncan/fuck-the-miracle-of-life-where-do-i-sign-up-for-a-hysterectomy/) [Glen Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-duncan/) > [Back in my mid-20s I was told I'd never be able to have children as I wasn't having periods. Doctors tried to start up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-scott/back-in-my-mid-20s-i-was-told-i-d-never-be-able-to-have-children-as-i/) [Jill Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-scott/) > [As a cancer survivor of a radical hysterectomy, there are complications that happen after the fact and your body changes and, going through those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-grammer/as-a-cancer-survivor-of-a-radical-hysterectomy-there-are/) [Camille Grammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-grammer/) > [I did not, thank the Lord, have to have a hysterectomy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolly-parton/i-did-not-thank-the-lord-have-to-have-a-hysterectomy/) [Dolly Parton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolly-parton/) > [A week in the hospital she had told us. A hysterectomy, she had said. It had seemed unremarkable to me in a woman of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/a-week-in-the-hospital-she-had-told-us-a-hysterectomy-she-had-said-it/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [I had a hysterectomy because I had really bad fibroids.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andi-oliver/i-had-a-hysterectomy-because-i-had-really-bad-fibroids/) [Andi Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andi-oliver/) > [“Favourable Chance, I fancy, is the god of all men who follow their own devices instead of obeying a law they believe in. Let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eliot/favourable-chance-i-fancy-is-the-god-of-all-men-who-follow-their-own/) [George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eliot/) > [I do my films the best as I can, period. I always hope that, gradually, my honest work will reach Americans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-ocelot/i-do-my-films-the-best-as-i-can-period-i-always-hope-that-gradually/) [Michel Ocelot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-ocelot/) > [The honest work of yesterday has lost its social status, its social esteem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/the-honest-work-of-yesterday-has-lost-its-social-status-its-social/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) > [“Times never change when there's a need for honest work to be done.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mitchell/times-never-change-when-there-s-a-need-for-honest-work-to-be-done/) [Margaret Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mitchell/) > [“Unsavoury as it is below, there is cheerfulness, and comfort, and hard, honest work above. ("In The Court Of The Dragon")”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-w-chambers/unsavoury-as-it-is-below-there-is-cheerfulness-and-comfort-and-hard/) [Robert W. Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-w-chambers/) > [“Strax gave a snort of amusement. ‘It is surely a very simple choice. One option is for a quiet life with honest work amongst…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-richards/strax-gave-a-snort-of-amusement-it-is-surely-a-very-simple-choice-one/) [Justin Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-richards/) ## More by Robert S. Mendelsohn > [If you rush to take a drug, do so with the full knowledge that you are being a Guinea Pig. The longer a drug…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-s-mendelsohn/if-you-rush-to-take-a-drug-do-so-with-the-full-knowledge-that-you-are/) [Robert S. Mendelsohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-s-mendelsohn/) > [For a pediatrician to attack what has become the "bread and butter" of pediatric practice is equivalent to a priest denying the infallibility of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-s-mendelsohn/for-a-pediatrician-to-attack-what-has-become-the-bread-and-butter-of/) [Robert S. Mendelsohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-s-mendelsohn/) > [Mother's milk, time-tested for millions of years, is the best nutrient for babies because it is nature's perfect food.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-s-mendelsohn/mother-s-milk-time-tested-for-millions-of-years-is-the-best-nutrient/) [Robert S. Mendelsohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-s-mendelsohn/) > [Doctors are directly responsible for hooking millions of people on prescription drugs. 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Mendelsohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-s-mendelsohn/) > [Before you take the first dose of any medication your doctor prescribes, you should make it your business to find out more about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-s-mendelsohn/before-you-take-the-first-dose-of-any-medication-your-doctor/) [Robert S. Mendelsohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-s-mendelsohn/) > [The reason doctors are so dangerous is that they believe in what they are doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-s-mendelsohn/the-reason-doctors-are-so-dangerous-is-that-they-believe-in-what-they/) [Robert S. Mendelsohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-s-mendelsohn/) [Explore all 9 Robert S. Mendelsohn quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-s-mendelsohn/) ## More Doubt quotes > [I put myself in the student's place and remember the frustrations, doubts, determination, and desires I felt when I was going through the initial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-martinez/i-put-myself-in-the-student-s-place-and-remember-the-frustrations/) Ted Martinez > [Because of the womb being a central phenomenon in the feminine body, the whole psychology of woman differs: she is non-aggressive, non-inquiring, non-questioning, non-doubting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/because-of-the-womb-being-a-central-phenomenon-in-the-feminine-body/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [I don't doubt that straight white men have identity issues and identity complexes and struggle with defining themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-simien/i-don-t-doubt-that-straight-white-men-have-identity-issues-and/) [Justin Simien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-simien/) > [“Where there is doubt (shanka), there is misery. 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Once one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/where-there-is-doubt-shanka-there-is-misery-the-moment-one-begins-to/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [We know accurately only when we know little, with knowledge doubt increases.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/we-know-accurately-only-when-we-know-little-with-knowledge-doubt/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [There is no doubt in my mind and I know in my time, there will be a Canadian basketball player playing for Toronto Raptors, 100%](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masai-ujiri/there-is-no-doubt-in-my-mind-and-i-know-in-my-time-there-will-be-a/) [Masai Ujiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masai-ujiri/) > [How could you feel worthless when God has honoured you by creating you and choosing you to be with Him, in this life and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasmin-mogahed/how-could-you-feel-worthless-when-god-has-honoured-you-by-creating/) [Yasmin Mogahed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasmin-mogahed/) > [“Let no one hope to find in contemplation an escape from conflict, from anguish or from doubt. On the contrary, the deep, inexpressible certitude…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/let-no-one-hope-to-find-in-contemplation-an-escape-from-conflict-from/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [“Two powerful, little words I've learned to use when facing challenges, fears, and doubts— so what? ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/two-powerful-little-words-i-ve-learned-to-use-when-facing-challenges/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [For diplomacy to be effective, words must be credible - and no one can now doubt the word of America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/for-diplomacy-to-be-effective-words-must-be-credible-and-no-one-can/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [Vision motivates, sustains and dispels doubt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-young/vision-motivates-sustains-and-dispels-doubt/) [Thomas Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-young/) > [One may not doubt that, somehow Good Shall come of Water and of Mud; And sure, the reverent eye must see A purpose in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-brooke/one-may-not-doubt-that-somehow-good-shall-come-of-water-and-of-mud/) [Rupert Brooke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-brooke/) > [Let smiles overshadow sadness. Let faith make you believe. Let confidence wash away doubts. Let love complete your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/let-smiles-overshadow-sadness-let-faith-make-you-believe-let/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [When in doubt, suggest that a subcommittee be appointed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-chapman/when-in-doubt-suggest-that-a-subcommittee-be-appointed/) Harry Chapman > [“Those who contemplate never escape the doubt.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henning-mankell/those-who-contemplate-never-escape-the-doubt/) [Henning Mankell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henning-mankell/) [Browse all 9,582 Doubt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doubt/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Greed plays a role in causing unnecessary surgery, although I don't think the economic motive alone is enough to explain it. There's no doubt that if you eliminated all unnecessary surgery, most surgeons would go out of business. 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