[jd]

Of course there can be unforeseen complications, but those are the exception rather than the rule. You can also have complications when you bring your car to the mechanic. Still we want to know what a typical oil refill is going to cost, and if it's going to be more expensive than expected we'd like to know what the damage is going to be so we can make an informed decision.

I don't buy that we can't handle the truth and need to be shielded from the pricing and costs structure of medical procedures. Especially because most medical procedures are purely routine matters and the hospital can just publish the average cost of those procedures. You'll then at least get a rough impression of what the price is going to be and you'll be able to compare hospitals based on that.