[Nifster]

While many hospitals are run by charities the hospital has staff to pay

Many restaurants require payment before you eat and folks don’t gripe about that

[1066AD]

Many restaurants require payment before you eat and folks don’t gripe about that

Well, fast food perhaps.

Real restaurants don't, in this country.

This did actually happen to me once, in Khabarovsk, Russian Far East thirty years ago :)

[roving]

I have only run across pay before you eat in drive-through and takeouts

[jimtorr]

Many restaurants require payment before you eat and folks don’t gripe about that

A meal costs tens of dollars. An operation costs thousands. Major difference there.

[BuchananBrigadeTrumpFan]

“Many restaurants require payment before you eat and folks don’t gripe about that”

That would be a valid point if most people used restaurant insurance to pay for lunch.