what can be a better thing than to give someone a hand?  I do know of  local surgeons who do  willingly and upfront "forgive" their patients the surgeon's cost ..peace health has the bridge program.   volunteers in medicine and the McKenzie surgery center can be counted as a valuable and true resource also.  what these folks are capable of is nothing short of magic and can have a huge impact on someone's life.  what was a gift, to the community, of 12 hours spent in changing people with their skills, the rest of other people's lives are markedly better.  +++I would advise any low income person needing surgery to ask if the surgeon has any policies about financial aid, including free donated time, in a most courteous way.