Medical Costs

With all the discussion about health care, why are the doctors and hospitals exempt from criticism?

I recently underwent cataract surgery as an outpatient at a local hospital. I spent five hours in the hospital and my bill was $8,800. My outraged call brought an itemized statement and it was all there--$8,800, including an item for $1,500 for pharmacy. How many aspirins can a person take in five hours? Most of the other items were cloaked in arcane medical terminology--for all I know I had a four-way bypass thrown in. With the fees for the surgeon, his assistant and the anesthesiologist, my total tab was around $14,000.

When I complained, I was told, “What do you care, you’re insured.” How many “insured” patients do complain, I wonder? And would it matter if they did?

SARA B. DRESCHER

Los Angeles