An update on my friend who needs the roto-rooter surgery:
It was scheduled for last Monday. My friend had difficulty learning what time he should show up, as hospital staff either didn't know or wouldn't say. After repeated efforts, he learned it was 6 am. He arranged for a friend to drive him to the hospital. He arrived on time, went through all the hoops, and spoke to numerous personnel. He was repeatedly asked about his extreme hoarseness--he had virtually no voice. Each time he explained that it came on when he began the medicine they'd prescribed for him (which he had since stopped taking). Each time they responded with, "You should be OK." He was in a hospital gown (a euphemism, don't you think?) when the anesthesiologist came in, heard him, checked his chest, and nixed the operation due to bronchitis! The operation was postponed for a month. Don't you think someone should have caught this sooner??