Waste of Money

As a patient, I have been amazed at the readiness of doctors to prescribe useless costly procedures.

I had severe chest pains when I exercised, even when I went for a walk. My primary care physician sent me to a cardiologist for a stress test which did not give conclusive results. $1200 down the drain.

The cardiologist sent me for a CAT scan, which also was inconclusive. Another $1200 down the drain.

Finally, an angiogram provided a conclusive answer: severe blockages in the coronary arteries.

Why the stress test? Why the CAT scan?

P.S. The angiogram was followed by a quadruple CABG (Coronary Artery By-Pass Graft). No more chest pains.