Canada is not Britain. We have our own way of doing things. We have very good doctors because the ones that are here want to be here. If complaints are lodged, it's usually because they've had to wait to be seen.
Perhaps this is a societal issue more than it is anything else, and by that I mean, in my freelance work I don't care what someone pays me. They've hired me to do a job and no matter that one person can't afford to pay what someone else can, they always get my best attention and effort. Unfortunately not everyone works that way. I guess doctors are no exception. There is nothing a government can do to "legislate" doctors to provide the best care possible like doctors should. The Hippocratic Oath to some may be just guidelines.
In Canada, we have a health care hierarchy, too, and that's our clinics. Those who don't have a family doctor and need medical attention go to a walk-in clinic. I would never go there. I would prefer to go to the ER and wait a couple of hours. But, at least in Canada, wherever you choose to go, it's paid for.
For the record, the hospitals, medical clinics and doctors offices are not "run by the government" they are funded by it through the taxes we pay (supposedly). For the most part, you won't hear very many complaints about the doctors here in Canada. Most patients are quite satisfied with the care they are provided by their family doctors and by the specialists. We have world-class medical facilities particularly in cancer care, children's needs and heart issues. And these are all available to every Canadian regardless of social status.
Canada's issues of wait times and not enough family doctors is not directly associated with the fact the funding comes from the government. These issues probably would have happened anyway because of other underlying factors that no one could have possibly predicted.
The kinds of issues you have raised need to be presented to your government representative. It's no good to be an armchair politician and not let those who can make difference know what you would like to see in the bill. Democracy means you get a say in that government--even if your party isn't currently in power. Speak up make your concerns heard. Let your representatives know these are the issues you would like to see addressed.
To sit back and do nothing will still leave 50 million Americans without access to basic medical care (according to a radio report I heard, yesterday). In the richest nation in the world this is unconscionable. Y'all deserve so much better than that from your government and from your medical professionals.
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Canada is not Britain. We have our own way of doing things. We have very good doctors because the ones that are here want to be here. If complaints are lodged, it's usually because they've had to wait to be seen.
Perhaps this is a societal issue more than it is anything else, and by that I mean, in my freelance work I don't care what someone pays me. They've hired me to do a job and no matter that one person can't afford to pay what someone else can, they always get my best attention and effort. Unfortunately not everyone works that way. I guess doctors are no exception. There is nothing a government can do to "legislate" doctors to provide the best care possible like doctors should. The Hippocratic Oath to some may be just guidelines.
In Canada, we have a health care hierarchy, too, and that's our clinics. Those who don't have a family doctor and need medical attention go to a walk-in clinic. I would never go there. I would prefer to go to the ER and wait a couple of hours. But, at least in Canada, wherever you choose to go, it's paid for.
For the record, the hospitals, medical clinics and doctors offices are not "run by the government" they are funded by it through the taxes we pay (supposedly). For the most part, you won't hear very many complaints about the doctors here in Canada. Most patients are quite satisfied with the care they are provided by their family doctors and by the specialists. We have world-class medical facilities particularly in cancer care, children's needs and heart issues. And these are all available to every Canadian regardless of social status.
Canada's issues of wait times and not enough family doctors is not directly associated with the fact the funding comes from the government. These issues probably would have happened anyway because of other underlying factors that no one could have possibly predicted.
The kinds of issues you have raised need to be presented to your government representative. It's no good to be an armchair politician and not let those who can make difference know what you would like to see in the bill. Democracy means you get a say in that government--even if your party isn't currently in power. Speak up make your concerns heard. Let your representatives know these are the issues you would like to see addressed.
To sit back and do nothing will still leave 50 million Americans without access to basic medical care (according to a radio report I heard, yesterday). In the richest nation in the world this is unconscionable. Y'all deserve so much better than that from your government and from your medical professionals.
July 25, 2009 - 10:17amThis Comment
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