Emergency rooms should be used only for emergencies. On weekends or evenings, call your doctor for advice for an illness that is not a clear emergency. Use a freestanding clinic or urgent care center when it is available. Discuss with your physician the risks, alternatives, and fees before treatment or drugs are prescribed. You should be certain that the treatment is necessary and appropriate for your condition.
Some medical treatment has risk.
You should understand the risk and agree it is acceptable. Let your physician know that the cost of any prescribed medical treatment is a concern to you. Seek a second opinion for nonemergency surgical procedures. It is your health that is at stake. You should know if another qualified medical specialist holds a contrary medical opinion and would not advise surgery.