It's possible the best performing knee surgeon will be the one that doesn't perform knee surgery, collects a fee, and returns your knee in the same condition it was in.

Nonetheless, that would be fraud.

> the best performing knee surgeon will be the one that doesn't perform knee surgery, collects a fee, and returns your knee in the same condition it was in.

Why not? Eg: "Sorry sir, but as you are a weak/old/high-risk patient, knee surgery would be very dangerous — my advice is to stay in a wheelchair"

This situation occurs fairly regularly with cancer when they find out it's inoperable once they open you up. You still gotta pay for it though.

The data on the ineffectiveness of common surgeries is overwhelming, yet they continue to be performed, because compensation is tied to it.

The "Do something" syndrome is strong - https://fs.blog/2015/06/do-something-syndrome/

I think it was Taleb who said the best way to assassinate a public figure is to provide them with a personal physician

That’s called a consult fee!

Or a salary.