I usually compare US hospitals to upscale mexican cartels. A cartel gives you a choice: "pay this arbitrary amount now, or have your arm chopped off". A hospita

I usually compare US hospitals to upscale mexican cartels. A cartel gives you a choice: "pay this arbitrary amount now, or have your arm chopped off". A hospital gives you the same choice, but does that with style: "sign these papers here and here, saying you agree to pay us arbitrary amount, or our surgeon, who's supposed to save your arm, isn't available today."