Although I understand the point you make about the capitalistic nature of doctors pushing operations to make money, I think you need to acknowledge there are people who benefit from fusion surgery. In 1999, my husband could no longer stand for any reasonable amount of time without agonizing pain. Three years of shots, physical therapy, and pain treatment did nothing. He had a very painful operation to fuse his vertebrae where the pain emanated. He recovered with greatly minimized pain.

I feel that physicians should use ethical diagnosis and procedures. Insurance companies are not doctors and should not deem plausible treatment to sustain what is in their financial interest