Even if you had all the money in the world, the medical system is very inadequate, for a variety of reasons. If you find a doctor that is competent AND conscientious, good for you, else you have to fend for yourself. Philosophically I'm an anarchist of sorts, and I believe that doctors should not have monopoly on practicing medicine. So if you can get away with doing safe medicine, be it pills or surgery, go for it.
Assuming that you have done your homework and that you are right. ( a lot of especially young people think that things are magical now, while IMO some things have regressed) .
>We just need to make sure it doesn't bankrupt us to get it.
Why shouldn't a motivated/intelligent layman try and get hold of those devices and learn them? Yes things can go wrong, but what _real_ suggestions you have for people to get procedures done, safely AND reasonably priced?
Things have not regressed. Have you driven in a modern car? Flown in a modern plane?
"Why shouldn't a motivated/intelligent layman try and get hold of those devices and learn them?"
Why don you buy a typewriter and write Shakespeare?
You really just assume that you, untrained and unexperienced would be better than a trained professional? You would really cut open your partner or child, cut out a section of their bowels, sew them back together, and know all the right drugs to give and have the half million dollar anesthesia machine? Do you have the MRI machine you need to diagnose this?
It's the same reason we don't just let anyone work on airliners.
Someone who thinks they can do this is dangerous, and borderline psychopath. I'd encourage them to watch one live surgury first. Saying you can fo something like this without even seeing it once is why this shows too much unfounded confidence. Yikes.
