Why health care costs so much

[pigeonca]

My sister-in-law's dad is 87 and not doing so well.  In addition to heart and bone problems, he has pneumonia, for which he was hospitalized.  A scan (I don't know which kind) revealed a mass on his lung, so today they were going to do a needle biopsy to see what kind of tumor it is.  But it became impossible to do the biopsy because his lung started to collapse, although had nothing adverse occurred, they would have gone ahead.  

I do not understand what this procedure would do, as he is far to old and sick to undergo surgery, radiation or chemo.  My sister-in-law said that it would provide a prognosis as to his longevity, but actually he could go at any time from any one of his many ailments.  I just don't see the point.  What do you guys think?  Isn't this one of the many unnecessary procedures that cause our health care system to cost as much as it does?

[pigeonca]

Thanks for asking after my health.  I have a bit of a cold or allergies right now, and feel rather stressed holding down the fort on sister-in-law's transcription business while she's with her dad in Spokane.  How are you feeling?  Hope to talk to you soon.
pigeon

[Forseegood]

I would agree w/ you, it seems terribly stressful for a man in his condition to go through a bunch of procedure like this, it's stressful for people far younger...please convey my sympathies..hope youre well too...sounds like it from your posts, for that I am glad...