This proves one thing only: America is loopy. Five years ago I was in West Virginia when I passed out inexplicably and bumped my head on a rock. My friends thought it sensible to have me checked out at a local hospital. So they took me there and it was quickly determined that my loss of consciousness was due to dehydration and that the bump on the head wasn't serious. I was in the hospital less than three hours. When I got back to the UK, I received a bill for over $2,500 for this service (luckily I had good travel insurance that covered it without any quibbling). Its things like that that make you really appreciate what we have "for free" in the UK.