SARS forces Ontarians to U.S. for medical help

Ottawa Citizen(via National Post) ^ | April 10, 2003 | Tom Blackwell

[saluki_in_ohio]

SARS forces Ontarians to U.S. for medical help

By Tom Blackwell The Ottawa Citizen

Thursday, April 10, 2003

TORONTO - Restrictions imposed on Ontario hospitals due to the threat of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome are pushing many Canadians to head south of the border for treatment or diagnostic testing, often at their own expense.

With elective surgeries and outpatient clinics suspended in Toronto-area hospitals, people are paying for MRI scans and other services in the United States themselves rather than wait at home.

The Ontario government has covered the costs of three surgeries in the U.S., fearing danger to the patients if they had to wait longer for the operation here.

"All of our front-office staff have said, 'Wow, are we running more commercials or something, because all of a sudden our Canadian calls have gone way up,' " said spokesman Kevin Burns of Buffalo MRI and CT.

MRI exams in Buffalo cost about $465 U.S., while full-body CAT scans run to as much as $900 U.S. Buffalo MRI says it can do the work within 24 hours.

The Ontario government closed two hospitals and froze most patient visits, elective surgery and clinics at other Toronto-area hospitals to contain the outbreak. Less-stringent limits were placed on other Ontario hospitals. James Young, the province's commissioner of public safety, said yesterday the government wants to start restoring those services, but warned it will happen gradually.

Meanwhile, close to 200 employees of an unnamed Toronto-area company were ordered into quarantine yesterday after an employee who was supposed to be in isolation repeatedly came to work while suffering SARS symptoms.

The incident and others prompted stern rebukes from officials who say their quarantine edicts must be obeyed to control the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome.

The public health department ordered a Toronto high school closed until next Tuesday after learning that a student who may have the illness attended school last week while symptomatic. The city's board of education closed an adjoining elementary school as a precaution.

Toronto health officials have also issued 20 letters of warning to quarantine violators, many of them companies that were ordering employees back to work before their 10-day isolation period had ended.

The number of suspect or probable cases rose by 10 yesterday and now stands at 242 across Canada. Among the five new suspect or probable cases in Ontario is an adopted baby brought back by couple from China at the end of March.

[Roughneck]

"TORONTO - Restrictions imposed on Ontario hospitals due to the threat of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome are pushing many Canadians to head south of the border for treatment or diagnostic testing, often at their own expense. "

They better Dam well pay for their own effing medicine if it's in OUR COUNTRY. Secondly, whodo they think they are bringing contamination to this country?

SARS can be deadly: I say keep the anti-war, socialist , french-loving Canadians OUT, let their so-much-better-than-ours health care take care of em.

[Sunsong]

Perhaps you don't understand the outrage here. Canada has crossed the line and as far as I'm concerned, it's time to close the border.

Your "contributions" are nothing really. If you think those are big things that should mean something to Americans -- you are wrong.

Canada has betrayed us and it's time for America to teach you how to treat us -- and guess what -- it's not going to be "secret", tiny amounts of support.

Canada needs to make a sincere apology to us.

[Snowyman]

who makes those slick MRI machines?

No one is questioning American innovation or technology. I'm thankful it's there and shared with the world I doubt that there is anyone who isn't.

If you need an MRI go to GE , but if you need to ride in the snow , as Armand Bombardier himself once needed to do, and lost his daughter because he had no way , then go to Bombardier.

[Sunsong]

As I say, typical Canadian -- can't argue facts and so you resort to personal attacks.

Yeah, I want to border closed with Canada. I am sick of Canada and the smug complaceny, anti-Americanism and betrayal coming from our traitorous neighbor to the north.

I'm willing to take the economic hit. It is Canada, not America, that believes in appeasment and making choices based on fear. America chooses to confront evil head on. Canada chooses betrayal.

[Sunsong]

""TORONTO - Restrictions imposed on Ontario hospitals due to the threat of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome are pushing many Canadians to head south of the border for treatment or diagnostic testing, often at their own expense. " "

So your not sending SARS to America? How about some more "facts"?

[Milesdavislover]

What?!!! Canadians are being hit harder than the US is and their hospitals have been shut down to hopefully save lives. That is an invasion? Have some compassion!

[Sunsong]

"And as far as Canadians go, you try living next to a country whose population greatly outnumbers yours, whose culture tends to swamp yours, and who followed a doctrine called "Manifest Destiny" for many years that suggested that you wanted to (forcibly?) make us part of your country (yes, I know that was many years ago), and you might begin to understand the undercurrent of anti-Americanism in Canada."

Typical Canadian -- whine and blame rather than take responsiblity. It is that and the "undercurrent of anti-Americanism" in Canada that I am sick of. How truly disgusting!

Time to close the border with Canada.

[hawkaw]

I'm assuming you mean the federal government needs to make an apology to your adminstration.

And yes I do agree with you on that if that is what you mean.

As for your border closing I have already made my point and you have decided to completely close your mind to the consequences.

Fortunately our nations will continue to work together militarily and politically seeing 90 percent of Canada's industries are controlled by the United States' large corporations and those corporations, more than you or I have the final say on who and what happens to the border.

One final point - the outrage like you are showing is only reserved for countries who are actually threatening your nation. Last time I checked, American companies operating in Canada were doing just fine and raking in some pretty decent profits to be taken back to the USA.

hawk

[brownie]

The problem with any socialized service is always a "lack of funding". Whether its education or medicine, whenever a government run system does not work, the supporters cry "lack of funding". If we only taxed people more and gave the money to the system, it would work great.

Maybe the problem is that the system is inefficient b/c it is not forced to compete?

[brownie]

And how much of your paycheck goes to taxes?

[saluki_in_ohio]

Well then, what was your point in posting this article with the title you gave it?

This was the title of the article as posted on the National Post website. Posting etiquette in this forum dictates that the title heading must contain the original title of the article from the website. If I wanted to Canada-bash, I would have used something else more inflammatory. If you are going to blame somebody, blame the Ottawa Citizen.

I'm sorry that many in your country feel that insecure having a superpower sharing your southern border. I am well aware of the undercurrent of America-bashing, and I have been aware for many years. All I am doing is making Americans aware that it exists, and doing what I can to help Canadian conservatives take their country back.

[brownie]

"Our" militaries are working together? Canada has a military? Since when?

[Sunsong]

First point. It is not your place to decide when and under what conditions anyone *feels* outrage. How arrogant! And yes, there is outrage with Canada, and not just from me -- read the thread and others. And also, I don't consider Canada a friend -- and I honestly wonder whether you are a foe.

Yes, I mean that official Canada should apologize to America. And I mean that people like you, and other Canadians who have the gaul to write here -- should apologize as well.

As for what will actually happen in terms of the border -- we'll see....

[-YYZ-]

"So your not sending SARS to America? How about some more "facts"?"

I'll try to explain this again. A number of our hospitals are under restrictions because we're dealing with the SARS outbreak. Those hospitals are treating SARS patients and thus the movement of visitors and even potential patients into and out of those hospitals is being restricted. That means that non-urgent surgeries aren't occuring at those hospitals, either. That is resulting in a shortage in some types of services for other patients, non-SARS patients, some of whom are going to the US for treatment. Our SARS patients are here, in our hospitals, which is why our hospitals are under restrictions. Now do you understand?

[HoustonCurmudgeon]

And now that SARS is in the US how far away is the day that you wish your hospitals had reacted in the same way. And closed their doors.

May I point out that this is the EXACT time a hospital is NEEDED! Do you think it's for the use of people who are well?

This is as dumb as saying you would turn your back on a friend when he needs your support ...... er ..... sorry ..... forgot you were Canadian ........

[Dr. Luv]

To my Canadian friends, I apologize for folks like sunsong, whose hatred of Canada has made him lose his marbles (as well as his perspective). While I wish your government had supported us in the conflict with Iraq, the concept of "closing the border" is, of course, ludicrous.

The Canada/US economy is inextricably linked – any attempt to limit or stop trade by either country would be the complete financial ruination of both. Oil, natural gas, car parts, pharmaceuticals, electricity, lumber and a thousand other things we buy from Canada because we cannot do without. You have many idiots in your country, we have many in ours, and in sunsong, you have just met one of our finest...

[Snowyman]

And how much of your paycheck goes to taxes?

You can do it on line. Find the tax calculator for Ontario, and one for any state. Punch in "single, no deductions, gross 60k" or what ever . The idea that there is difference on the dollar doesn't work. Made here or there, a buck is 100 cents. Don't forget your Medicaid payment and possible city income tax.

BTW . I pay $37.50 a year for a car licence. What do you pay? Seriously I'd like to kow.

[Sunsong]

Dr Luv, you know what you can do with your opinion. Perhaps democrat underground is a place you would feel more comfortable.

Appeasment is what the French and the Canadians do...not Americans.

Time to clsoe the border with Canada.

[hawkaw]

And I mean that people like you, and other Canadians who have the gaul to write here -- should apologize as well.

Actually I have.

[-YYZ-]

OK, so that was the original article's title. So you're just using it as an excuse to bash Canada.

Yes, maybe we are a little insecure about our culture. Still, you'd be hard-pressed to find a less anti-American country in the world than Canada. Try to find another country that Americans can travel in and be treated as well as in Canada. (you ever heard of those Americans travelling elsewhere in the world displaying a Canadian flag to avoid the local anti-Americanism?) Actually, there is no other country that has relations with the US comparable to Canada. Yes, you can drive into Mexico, but as soon as you do you're in a 3rd world country. When you come to Canada, other than having to change your money (and that's not always necessary) you might as well be in the 51st state.

Overall I really think you're making a mountain of a molehill.