Some years ago I received a bill from a radiologist for reading an x ray. I was most upset as my primary pulmologist was the best man in town for my condition and I was paying him big bucks from my own pocket to tell me what the hell was wrong with me. I sent a short note to the radiologist that said, "if you do not think the best pulmonogist in Corpus Christi, Texas is not qualified to read my X-Ray I will be more than happy to pay the bill that you have sent me. I never heard from him again. The radiologist also owned the facility where I had the X-Ray!
Radiologists send reports to pulmonologists. Not all physicians are qualified to interpret radiological procedure results. The bill was standard practice for all procedures. You were not expected to pay it if you had insurance. FYI.
This is the way things work, and for good reason. Most pulmonologists can indeed read chest X-rays well, as far as it pertains to the lung. However, if there were a bone tumor or something wrong with the heart or neck or upper abdomen, they might never see it.
A radiologist may read a hundred or more chest X-rays every day and gets very, very good at it. Pulmonologists look at a small fraction of this number, and don't necessarily have time to dictate a full written report on each one they see.
The radiologist also owned the facility where I had the X-Ray!
Which means he paid for the note and service contract on the machine that took your picture, the salaries and benefits for the techs and receptionist and file clerks and billing clerks and transcriptionists, the cost of the X-ray film, the chemicals and machines to develop the film, the rent for the roof over it all, taxes, and a dozen other expenses. What was left over he got to keep. In your case, he paid money out of his own pocket to help you.
You stiffed this guy and seem proud of it. I think you are a contemptible freeloader.
-ccm