The truly horrifying thing about your anecdote of the 19 year old woman sedated into a stupor so the hospital could milk the insurance is ... I don't doubt it for an instant. If she hadn't had insurance, she'd have been out on the street, "condition" and all to make room for another patient in the bed she was taking.

I have reached the point where I am more than a little concerned about being unable to escape from the hospital if ever I wind up in one. The Weasel and I have had this conversation: "Don't let them keep me." He damn sure better listen.