Posted on 07/02/2009 6:06:44 PM PDT by Kaslin
In his recent speech to the American Medical Association, President Obama counseled Americans to beware "dire warnings about socialized medicine and government takeovers; long lines, and rationed care; decisions made by bureaucrats and not doctors."
Unfortunately for the president, there are a few Cassandras whose warnings are worth heeding. Chief among them are the millions of Canadians who have received substandard care at the hands of a government-run health system.
Before America emulates the Canadian model with a new trillion-plus-dollar health plan, it's worth examining whether government-run systems are all they're cracked up to be. As a Canadian by birth, I can assure you they're not.
A "culture of queuing" dominates my native land. In 2008, the average Canadian waited 17.3 weeks from the time his general practitioner referred him to a specialist until he actually received treatment, according to the Vancouver-based Fraser Institute.
That's 86% longer than the wait in 1993, when the Institute first started quantifying the problem. In 2008, more than 750,000 Canadians — 2.8% of the population — were on waiting lists.
My mother's case is instructive. In June 2005, she wasn't feeling well and thought she might have colon cancer. She asked for a colonoscopy but was told by her doctor that it was unnecessary. The doctor ordered an X-ray, which revealed nothing.
(Excerpt) Read more at ibdeditorials.com ...
Ping
A “culture of queuing” dominates my native land. In 2008, the average Canadian waited 17.3 weeks from the time his general practitioner referred him to a specialist until he actually received treatment, according to the Vancouver-based Fraser Institute.
That’s 86% longer than the wait in 1993, when the Institute first started quantifying the problem. In 2008, more than 750,000 Canadians — 2.8% of the population — were on waiting lists.
Ping.
Well, well, fanfan. There are many good things about Canada and Canadians. The national health care system is not one of them.
Can we not learn from examples? My country seems lobotomized.
Abort the very young. Leave the very old to rot in line.
And tell the rest what a great job you’re doing.
This is not about health care. It is about PEOPLE CONTROL.
Exactly
Yes, it is. They also want to take over the entire student loan program. Who gets the loan, where they study, what they study, where they work after it's over. God help us as we do all that we can to help ourselves.
He tried to tell them that he suffered from Crohn's disease at the very beginning of his battle but no one listened. He tried to get second opinions but was denied.........
Her brother's ordeal has been the worst nightmare anyone could imagine. The Canadian healthcare system over the past year has systematically tortured her brother and he is now on his death bed. According to Anne, her brother is down to 50 lbs.....which may be an exageration but it doesn't matter.
Lobotomized....no brain at the top.....I'm not so sure.
I see Manchurian all over this, I'm sorry to say.
This isn't happening by accident. Imho.
I was in Winnipeg when I was struck down by a nasty respiratory virus. It would not subside regardless of OTC medicines and plenty of rest, so I needed to see a doctor. The people with whom I was working recommended a local ENT. I had to go through the rigmarole of signing up for their socialized healthcare in order to see the doctor. No way could I simply pay for treatment out of pocket, even as a foreigner.
After finally getting my healthcare card, I headed for the ENT's office. When I walked into his office (not an examining room?) he was sitting behind his desk smoking a cigarette. I kid you not. An ENT. With an office full of people with colds and respiratory problems.
After the examination, he told me that one of my ears was completely full of fluid and the other was half full. He could lance the eardrum to drain the fluid but he said that would not be necessary. I would be better in a few days. No medication. No nothing. Just "So long, eh?"
While flying home, I could literally hear bubbling in my ears on ascent and descent along with plenty of pain. My American ENT, after being examined me, said that I could have suffered serious hearing loss because of this man's incompetence.
Oh, Canada! Your healthcare really sucks.
“help us as we do all that we can to help ourselves”
We were able to come out of eight long years of socialist/statist nighmare. I’m sure the rest of the US will too.
BS.
And this kind of care is what the rats want to give us. No thanks
I lived it, jerk. Don’t call BS what you didn’t live through.
From the title, I thought it was another lefty story about Palin.
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