We have heard that many times in the wake of the scandal involving unsafe medical practices at a Las Vegas clinic and, we now learn, perhaps others across the state. Guess what else is a business, folks? Government.

And if you want to know what they have in common, it is this: When either cuts corners, people can be hurt, perhaps fatally.

The ongoing saga of what was discovered at the Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada, and what is being uncovered by reporters and authorities elsewhere, is at its heart a business story. Or, I should clarify: A failure of business story.

Sooner or later, through civil lawsuits or criminal prosecutions, we will know more of the truth about what really went on at the Endoscopy Center and other clinics believed to have reused syringes and double-dipped in single-use vials. The buzz in the medical community is that it was not nearly as widespread as officials have asserted, but we will find out. I hope.

If Dipak Desai and others cut corners and put patients' lives at risk, that is a decision to save money that will cost them their careers. If so, that would be a classic case of what seemed like good business ending up as very bad business - Danteesque punishment and they will be fit for a circle of hell.

But what do we make of the Swiss cheese regulation of these ambulatory surgery centers and the state's failure to enforce the laws, as weak as they are? Indeed, there is a bitter irony here:

Those who always say regulatory controls inhibit businesses too much - hello, chamber folks - should wonder what might have happened if the state had the resources and the will to use them. But these same folks also chant about government running more like a business - and if it had in this case, maybe some of this bad business could have been avoided.

Maybe. Granted, there are no guarantees. But the problem is trivialized when the highest elected official in the state, the man charged with the health, safety and welfare of the citizenry, says this during a news conference:

"We do not have enough highway patrolmen to stop everybody who makes a mistake," Gibbons said. "We could inspect (surgical centers) annually and then pretty soon, have we done overkill?"

His poor choice of words notwithstanding, the real horror of the governor's remarks is his poor choice of perspective. There is no question that inspecting these facilities every week or month is not feasible. But how about twice a year, as the state does prisons, and not when they expect the inspectors?

The governor's job here is to reassure the populace and show that he is on the case. Message: He cares.

But his insensitive metaphorical jaunt only contributes to anxiety and outrage among 40,000 " or more "people potentially exposed to deadly diseases " and I guarantee some of the governors' friends are among them because this is one of those cases where everyone knows someone who has been affected. As the CEO of a firm under assault, Gibbons did little to inspire confidence.

Yes, medicine is a business and most reasonable people would not begrudge good doctors making a great living. So, too, with lawyers, despite the excesses of some opportunists now, and with journalists, despite the sensationalism seeping into some coverage.

But the people affected by this health scare and even those who are not but feel outraged and violated cannot do much about the doctors, lawyers and journalists practicing badly. The only business regular folks can affect is the one they are de facto CEOs of and the one whose leaders they can oust with a collective push of a button.

So if the political elite won't attend to business and do what is necessary, perhaps the public will decide to put some or most of them out of business.