http://www.foxnews.com/health/2012/09/05/scorpion-sting-leaves-arizona-woman-with-huge-bill-and-bite/?test=latestnews
The sting of an Arizona scorpion (Centuroides sp.) is not that big of a deal, maybe some localized swelling and pain, hardly ever a significant systemic effect. The news story describes a $53,000 hospital bill for a woman who received scorpion antivenom for what looks like a very trivial injury. Her pain probably could have been treated with some local anesthetic and morphine...total cost maybe a couple hundred dollars vs. thousands! If the antivenom were needed to save her life, then Yes, give and worry about the cost later. If they just gave a $40,000 med to manage pain that could have been managed in a more conventional manner, well then that $40,000 cost seems too excessive. seems like the whole story is not being told here
No comments:
Post a Comment