If Canada's socialized medicine is so great, why did Danny Williams, premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, go to Miami for a heart procedure. Some comments after reading this article.
"his personal health trumped any public fallout over the controversial decision." So what is the cost to personal health in socialized medicine?
"he went to Miami to have a "minimally invasive" surgery" If he goes to the U.S. for "minimally invasive" surgery, why would he stay in Canada for major surgery?
"based on the advice of his doctors." So even the doctors in Canada think it's better to get care in the U.S.?
"he didn't announce his departure south of the border because he didn't want to create "a media gong show," Or he didn't want the criticism for not staying in Canada for the procedure, yet he's getting the criticism anyway.
"I would've been criticized if I had stayed in Canada and had been perceived as jumping a line or a wait list. ... " So with socialized medicine those of us that can't afford to travel to another country will be subjected to lines and wait lists?
"I have the utmost confidence in our own health care system in Newfoundland and Labrador, but we are just over half a million people," he said.
"We do whatever we can to provide the best possible health care that we can in Newfoundland and Labrador. The Canadian health care system has a great reputation, but this is a very specialized piece of surgery that had to be done and I went to somebody who's doing this three or four times a day, five, six days a week." So with socialized medicine we can't expect access to specialized surgeries, and doctors won't have experience in specialized surgeries?
"Williams also said he paid for the treatment, but added he would seek any refunds he would be eligible for in Canada." Glad to know many people who can't afford to go to another country for treatment have paid taxes to reimburse you for the privilege of going to the U.S. for treatment.
4 comments:
I didn't read the article (so perhaps I really shouldn't comment ;-) but if you could afford it wouldn't you go wherever in the world you needed in order to get the best care for your specific needs? I would - regardless of what health care system my own country has.
Absolutely, I have no problem with his coming to the U.S. for treatment. My issue is people pointing to what a great healthcare system Canada has and that the U.S. should have socialized medicine as well. If the Canadian leaders don't support and endorse the system for their own use, why is it good for us?
I wonder if you Dad used Medicare for his hip surgery? That is the biggest gov't run health care system in the world. I had $240,000 of surgery in '09 and paid nothing out of pocket. Not too bad a system.
Did your father and Jerry have their choice of doctors and were their surgeries scheduled promptly? That won't happen if the Obama proposed health care plan passes.
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