Universal Health Care?
These two articles illustrate what can happen when gov't runs healthcare. How long before these countries require prenatal screening for their own citizens in order to "reduce the burden" of certain illness.
If you don't want to read the articles, here are some excerpts:
If you don't want to read the articles, here are some excerpts:
Dr. Stanley Muwanguzi is frustrated with being in limbo while Citizenship and Immigration Canada officials review his application, which was denied in June 2006 on the grounds his cerebral palsy-stricken daughter would constitute a burden on the health-care system. -The Calgary Sun
SYDNEY, Australia – A German doctor hoping to gain permanent residency in Australia said Friday he will fight a decision by the immigration department to deny his application because his son has Down syndrome. -Yahoo! News
posted by Amie at 10:48 AM
4 Comments:
Yes, this is scary for many reasons.
One is that there are certain "standards of care" that are not based on the scientific evidence, but rather on the value-judgments of a certain class of practitioners. If people have no choice but to get permission for treatment from third-party payers, how will more sensible standards of care evolve?
Think of James Patterson's book, Against Medical Advice. In a state-run health-care system, how long will it be possible to go against medical advice?
Oy.
Wow scary stuff.
This is shameful! In the case of the German Doctor in Australia, it seems rather ironic, as with a Doctor's salary, he and his family would be absorbing most, if not all, the costs of their child's treatments, as I understand it. And the mere fact that our shortage of Doctors in this country is a major concern, should count towards over-looking what I see as discriminitory. I'm sure many Australian's would feel the same...
Elishva,
I totally agree with you. I've seen that book, it looks good.
Naomi,
I found it interesting that both Australia and Canada are facing doctor shortages, yet both countries decided that the "burden" outweighed the benefit of a physician.
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