Author compares U.S., Japanese hospitals

Greenwich Time ^ | July 31, 2003 | By Vesna Jaksic

[Koblenz]

When Yuriko Takeyama had her first serious car accident, she spent about two weeks in a Connecticut hospital. She later returned to her native Japan -- and was involved in another serious car accident that kept her in a Tokyo hospital for 45 days.

The former Stamford resident and past president of the Japan Society of Fairfield County recently wrote a book based on her experiences, in which she compares American and Japanese health systems. She discussed the book, written in Japanese, during a luncheon yesterday sponsored by the Japan Society. The event, at a local member's house, drew more than a dozen participants.

[Koblenz]

I thought the USA was horrible because we are the only industrialized country not to have socialized medicine. That's what John Kerry keeps telling me, at least.

[AmericanInTokyo]

I know one thing for sure. I am not one of those Americans who jingoistically and uninformedly goes around (without ever having stepped outside the USA) saying "USA! USA! The USA is best in everything!" It aint. But it is in a lot of things.

And when it comes to hospitals, DAMNED if I would ever want to be stuck in a Japanese hospital. I would DEMAND they medivac my ass out of the archipelago and get me to a stateside facility ASAP. Particularly if I were suspected of having a bad disease and wanted to get the news straight, clear and honest (my right).

I havent read this Japanese woman's book but I bet she slams the Japanese approach and praises American hospitals. If she did, good for her! :-)

[AmericanInTokyo]

Just read the full article now -- and sure enough -- she slammed the japanese hospital and health care system! bravo!

[WorkingClassFilth]

Amazing story. Amazing conclusions, anyway.

I thought for sure this was another standard issue 'American-health-care-sucks-and-we-should-all-disarm-and-become-socialist-hamsters-like-the-peaceful-Japanese-and-everyone-else-in-the-world' kind of story.

Please, excuse me for my glaring assumptions and knee-jerk prejudice.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

My wife and I were vacationing at Ixtapa a few years ago when she started having trouble breathing. A Mexican MD was called to the hotel. He carried his supplies in a Plano tackle box, examined my wife and wrote a perscription for antihistimine, concluding to me in private, "it is all in her head."
We still laugh about this house call--glad it wasn't serious.

[Koblenz]

I thought for sure this was another standard issue 'American-health-care-sucks-and-we-should-all-disarm-and-become-socialist-hamsters-like-the-peaceful-Japanese-and-everyone-else-in-the-world' kind of story.

Well, this woman happens to know what she's talking about, since she spent time in both hospital systems.

[AmericanInTokyo]

actually, the dire state of japanese health care is probably more cultural than it is socialist, per se. IMHO. but it does suck, I can tell you that for sure. on the other hand, their attorney-less society is very high on my list of good things. we have too many damned attorneys and they have just the right amount, imho, to keep frivilous lawsuits down to a minimum

[boris]

"My wife and I were vacationing at Ixtapa a few years ago when she started having trouble breathing."

I stepped off a curb at 6 AM one day and had a mega-charly-horse. I limped around for a week and finally called my (excellent) MD. His receptionist said he was booked. "Is your leg swollen? Discolored?" I looked and damn it was. I really had not noticed. "I'll send you to Dr. Jeckyll (name changed slightly), she said.

Dr. Jeckyll, who did not know me, saw a 51-year-old diabetic with swollen limb, discolored, and hot to the touch. He put me in the emergency room, suspecting an infection. The emergency room doc ordered blood tests and admitted me immediately. I spent 4 days in the hospital with antibiotics dripping into me. Finally a third doctor, Dr. Naru, making rounds looked at my leg and said, "That doesn't look infected to me. No wound, either. I'll call a specialist." The specialist, Dr. Yasni, said in a sing-song Indian accent, "Oh, this is not infected. You tore a muscle in your calf. It was a gigantic charly-horse. Because you are on blood thinners, it bled which caused the swelling and discoloration. You do not need to be here. I will go and write the release."

Four days in the hospital for nothing. Erring on the side of caution and ever-wary of lawsuits.

I continue to get bills for a $15 co-pay from Dr. Jeckyll. One of these days I will send him a note: "Take me to small claims court. I'll be damned if I pay you $15 for a misdiagnosis." Understand, if it was $150 I would pay.

--Boris

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Aren't these the same people who've taken over the airport in Toronto ?

[joesnuffy]

One thing we can thank the sodomites of America for
Once they and their political allies force their so called marriage agenda on America

and have foisted off their AIDs and STD immune compromised partner's
medical needs..onto the coperations and small businesses of America

Real familes will not be able to afford health care for their own wives husbands and children
The destruction of the Real America will be well under way..

The fruits of tolerance