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What on earth did your friend have wrong with his hand that he agreed to surgery on the same day as an initial consult? I know we run a ton of expensive diagnos

What on earth did your friend have wrong with his hand that he agreed to surgery on the same day as an initial consult? I know we run a ton of expensive diagnostics in the U.S. to rack up bills, but surgery is not without its risks, not to mention the pain of recovery in the best case - financial considerations aside.

notfed 3y ago
Also can any foreigner do this? Asking for a friend
- tren 3y ago
  I believe only foreigners from countries that we have reciprocal agreement with: https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/before-you-go/health/reciprocal-health https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/before-you-go/health/recipr...
- ceejayoz 3y ago
  My wife broke her foot in Australia. Three days in hospital, surgically implanted pins. $700. Wife said “no no no I’m not a citizen” and they said “yeah we’re so sorry about the cost” and she laughed. Counting premiums, we paid $48k out-of-pocket for healthcare here in the US last year.
motoxpro 3y ago
As an athlete, this happens all the time if you’re injured or if you get in an accident. Any sort of injury really.
andrewstuart 3y ago
Why would you not? Australian public hospitals have first class surgeons. In this case they recommended surgery. They're not doing it for financial gain, why not trust their advice? Your alternative is to go to another surgeon for a second opinion but you can only do that in the private health system, and that will take months or maybe longer and cost you alot of money.
- lr4444lr 3y ago
  Because doctors are humans, and humans make errors. I would never go into surgery without having at least a radiologist confirm the results of what the surgeon was seeing unless it was a life or death emergency. Also, because people heal naturally at a variable rate. Not every tear or break needs invasive treatment.
  - ceejayoz 3y ago
    Why are you assuming radiology wasn’t involved?
krisoft 3y ago
> What on earth did your friend have wrong with his hand that he agreed to surgery on the same day as an initial consult? Obviously I don't know what happened there, but as an example having a broken bone in their hand which is badly set would fit. It would cause you to have "pain in your hand" and it would require immediate surgery to avoid further damage.

notfed 3y ago

Also can any foreigner do this? Asking for a friend

tren 3y ago
I believe only foreigners from countries that we have reciprocal agreement with: https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/before-you-go/health/reciprocal-health https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/before-you-go/health/recipr...
ceejayoz 3y ago
My wife broke her foot in Australia. Three days in hospital, surgically implanted pins. $700. Wife said “no no no I’m not a citizen” and they said “yeah we’re so sorry about the cost” and she laughed. Counting premiums, we paid $48k out-of-pocket for healthcare here in the US last year.

motoxpro 3y ago

As an athlete, this happens all the time if you’re injured or if you get in an accident. Any sort of injury really.

andrewstuart 3y ago

Why would you not? Australian public hospitals have first class surgeons. In this case they recommended surgery. They're not doing it for financial gain, why not trust their advice? Your alternative is to go to another surgeon for a second opinion but you can only do that in the private health system, and that will take months or maybe longer and cost you alot of money.

lr4444lr 3y ago
Because doctors are humans, and humans make errors. I would never go into surgery without having at least a radiologist confirm the results of what the surgeon was seeing unless it was a life or death emergency. Also, because people heal naturally at a variable rate. Not every tear or break needs invasive treatment.
- ceejayoz 3y ago
  Why are you assuming radiology wasn’t involved?

krisoft 3y ago

> What on earth did your friend have wrong with his hand that he agreed to surgery on the same day as an initial consult? Obviously I don't know what happened there, but as an example having a broken bone in their hand which is badly set would fit. It would cause you to have "pain in your hand" and it would require immediate surgery to avoid further damage.