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It has become clear that some elective surgery can have more to do with the doctor’s preference than the patient’s requirements, The Washington Post reports. The newspaper points to a study by The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy & Clinical Practice’s Dartmouth Atlas Project showing that some doctors routinely schedule patients for surgery far more often than other doctors.

“For instance, Medicare patients in Casper, Wyo., were found to be more than seven times as likely to get elective back surgery for back pain as Medicare patients in Hono­lulu,” the Post reports.

What should patients do to make sure the doctor’s recommendation for surgery is the best option for you? Ask a lot of questions, writes the Post.

Read the full story, published 12/2/13 by The Washington Post.