Tuesday, February 2, 2010
This is just a quick link to follow -- an "aside." These are links to interesting things that, for one reason or another, I didn't place into a full posting. Click the link to visit the full article. Go to the blog index for a regular listing of posts.
Canadian Premier Danny Williams will undergo heart surgery later this week in the United States - '...Mr. Williams' decision to leave Canada for the surgery has raised eyebrows over his apparent shunning of Canada's health-care system. "It was never an option offered to him to have this procedure done in this province," said Ms. Dunderdale, refusing to answer whether the procedure could be done elsewhere in Canada...' [Faith in the system.]
I have to laugh at the American right-wing in it's attempt to seize upon William's coming to the US for his operation as some sort of vindication of their claim that US healthcare is the best in the world. What they don't want you to talk about though is the thousands of Americans who travel to China, South America, and Mexico for their operations, which, even after the cost of round trip tickets and lodging, are still less costly, and just as competently done, as anything in the US.
Name one person who ever traveled to China or Mexico for medical attention! Why is it that Canada's health care is so great that the Premier is coming here? Why don't he go to China? You are typical, you blurt without any facts or intelligent thoughts.
Don't some Americans routinely travel to Mexico for medical treatment because it costs less there?
Not just to Mexico, but even to India, for surgeries in modern hospitals that cater to foreigners with 5-star accommodations. It's a growing industry. Also, some Americans travel to places like Mexico and India for alternative treatments, especially for cancer, that aren't available here. One understands that someone who has a death sentence from an untreatable disease may be desperate and willing to try anything. Some call these treatments unproven or quackery. Whether these treatments are beneficial to the patients in terms of extended life, relief from symptoms or improved quality of life is not for Nappy to say.
The Canook Premier is coming here not to save money but for the same reasons that other Canadians who can afford it do -- better quality care and/or not having to wait forever for an appointment or operation back home in the frozen North.
Jesse's statement that some Americans travel abroad for medical care to save money is true, but he's confusing cost with availability and quality. Is there anyone who travels to Canada for better or more readily available treatment?
Mexicans routinely travel to the US for low cost free medical care, especially baby birthing.