The public is essentially ignorant of treatment protocols, what the usual course of treatment is for a particular illness, how disease responds to various treatments, etc. In part the medical profession is responsible for this and in part society is responsible because health education has been elevated to the status it deserves.
More public education is needed on health care.
Many people demand certain procedures, even if inappropriate, out of fear they will not get the procedure if they do need it. Knowledge that they can find a lawyer to initiate a law suit often inhibits the more rational approach to treatment. Doctors, fearing law suits, sometimes capitulate. Capitation and managed care, at this point in time, leaves doctors more vulnerable because they will be held more responsible for some of the decisions they will be forced to make to comply with the managed care companies procedures. I would like to Add my comment.