Discussion: I have prolonged chest pain, I went to my attending physician for an MRI, and he politely refused me, claiming there was no need.

MRI imaging is a costly test relative to alternatives (CT, ultrasound, and the like). Doctors keep the MRI test for several more urgent conditions, including cancer patients, fear of cancerous tumors, complex surgeries, and life-threatening situations. This inevitably means that many patients are refused an MRI even with comprehensive health insurance. Some countries deliberately produce a shortage of MRI equipment to avoid the high financial outlay. At the time, I paid about 1000 dollars out of pocket for an MRI of the liver and gallbladder (without insurance participation) even though my condition was severe.