[jljljl]

Neither Lasik nor cosmetic surgeries tend to be major issues of life and death, nor do they tend to occur in emergency situations where an informed decision may not be possible.

Free markets and transparent pricing that work require that there not be major information asymmetries between supplier and purchaser. If I'm in the hospital with an emergency or critical condition, I probably don't have the option of fully researching or understanding my options.

[refurb]

You don't think people with cancer research which clinic to go to? I know if I had cancer I dam well would.

[greedo]

I sure as hell did. I didn't care about the cost, but I sure cared about the outcome.

And even in my case, time wasn't a huge factor. From diagnosis to pre-surgical chemo and radiation, was over a week. And surgery was a month after that. Plenty of time to weigh cost versus performance.

[jljljl]

I wasn't talking specifically about people with cancer who have plenty of time to research which clinic is most cost effective.

I stated in my post: "If I'm in the hospital with an emergency or critical condition, I probably don't have the option of fully researching or understanding my options."

Just because situations exist where you have time to research, doesn't mean you always have time to do so. And a healthcare system needs to take that into consideration, especially when the consequences can be life or death.

[refurb]

Point taken. However, keep in mind that even when it's an emergency, you often have choices. For example, if you just had a heart attack, they will often stabilize you then talk about further options.

I agree that no one will do a price-check when they are on death's doorstop, but there are many instances where doing a price check for medical procedures is possible.

[jljljl]

Fair point :)

[drumdance]

More to the point, you will spend a great deal of money to extend your life, and there is no less-expensive alternative (at least not published). Lasik has a very low-cost alternative: glasses.