Chris- If you could just post this as widely as possible among the US media channels... health care in the US just might get better...
Patrick -- Patrick O. Dolan, Ph.D. Associate Professor and Chair of Psychology Drew University Madison, NJ 07940 973-408-3558 [email protected] >>> On 7/6/2009 at 9:45 PM, "Christopher D. Green" <[email protected]> wrote: > Having read another typically outrageous CNN article about the Canadian > health system (generalizing, as usual, from one tragic anecdote) I feel > compelled to speak out. > http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/07/06/canadian.health.care.system/index.htm > l > > > First of all, there is no "Canadian" health system. There are 13 > provincial and territorial systems, each with its own strengths and > weaknesses. The Federal government has five "principles" that all > provincial plans must abide by. > > Second, there can be treatment delays in the Canadian health system. > That's because everyone is actually getting health care, not just the > wealthiest 2/3 of the population. The delays can be aggravating, > frustrating, infuriating. They do not, however, put people's health in > jeopardy, the occasional sad story notwithstanding. (I am deeply dubious > of this woman's story. It sounds to me like she was scared, > understandably enough, not in mortal peril.) > > Third, it is fairly ridiculous for Americans to be worried about (or > even all that interested in) the Canadian health systems. Under no > circumstances will Americans get a remotely similar system. In Canada, > there are NO (well, to a first approximation) private health options > (for treatments that are covered by the provincial insurance plan). It > is a very unusual system in that way. Most European countries have a mix > of both public and private systems. Undoubtedly, any US system will have > a mixed character as well. (Can you imagine any US politician declaring > it *illegal* for doctors to offer private services, and then fixing the > fees doctors will be paid for the services they provide? There would be > a revolution!.) What you will get is the opportunity to use a public > system. If you don't like it, you will be able to stay with your > (incredibly expensive) private system. However, if you can't get private > insurance, you will still be able to get decent health care. There's the > rub. (Of course, politicians opposed to such a system, once it is in > place, will do their best starve it of funds, and then declare it a > "failure," just as politicians who oppose our system up here do.) > > Chris --- To make changes to your subscription contact: Bill Southerly ([email protected])
