[The Westerner]

If you get a shot in your spine, you are paying for the anesthesiologist who has taken the risk of doing it at all. Believe me, those docs who do it without making a critical mistake are worth the money. Their fee along with their malpractice insurance is what makes it expensive (along with inflation and government caused inflation in med prices and all the folks who sue docs.)

[MinuteGal]

I agree with your opinion about risks and malpractice, etc. Doctors have to cover their costs and profit, just as all business people have to do. I don't begrudge them a dime.

I think the point that I and others are making on this thread is a separate one. My own (conservative) doctor told me there's routinely two prices, one for those with good insurance, and others with poor or no insurance....and the prices are not even close to each other. This is one of the issues in the ongoing national health care debate.

Leni