The evil Canadians

[Cloudbringer]

Animal, my only comment is about the 'elective surgery' being the only waiting list.

I have a friend on Vancouver Island who's an expat American, married to a Canadian and quite in love with Canada (been there many years now), but her one and only major complaint is the lousy health care. (her description!) She told me that when she had gallstones and was passing out from the pain, they put her on a gurney and told her she'd have to wait....she was literally banging her head on the wall when they told her she would need surgery and would be put on a waiting list. A few days later she was hemoraging and in agony- called for emergency care and eventually got into a hospital. I won't bother to mention the horrors of her recovery, but suffice it to say, she attributes her lousy care to 'free' healthcare and would love to see something done to improve the system.

Personally, I don't find that to be 'elective surgery', myself and her description of routine care sounded pretty bad the few times we've discussed it.

[pritchke]

He may have a reason to fear gay mairrages becoming law in the US has well.

Last month, the Ontario Court of Appeal added an unprecedented twist by ruling that homosexuals could immediately marry in that province. A British Columbia court followed suit

The federal government, which had been fighting gay marriage tooth and nail, threw in the towel.

Gays and lesbians have been flocking to public offices in those provinces to take advantage of a right denied to them throughout human history.

Canada would become the world's third country to recognize same-sex marriage if the law passes.

The legislation is believed to have enough support to pass through the Commons.

http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2...137501-cp.html

I was watching the news and there is a church that marries gay couples. One of the priest of a church (I think they said he was from New York), is convincing gay couples to go to Ontario to get married then go back to their state of origin. This would force the US government to have to deal with the issue. The priest is trying to get 2 couples with Canadian marriage licences in every state. Can't remember the exact name of the church but it is one of those new age ones that are popping up.

[pritchke]

Originally posted by Cloudbringer: Animal, my only comment is about the 'elective surgery' being the only waiting list. I have a friend on Vancouver Island who's an expat American, married to a Canadian and quite in love with Canada (been there many years now), but her one and only major complaint is the lousy health care. (her description!) She told me that when she had gallstones and was passing out from the pain, they put her on a gurney and told her she'd have to wait....she was literally banging her head on the wall when they told her she would need surgery and would be put on a waiting list. A few days later she was hemoraging and in agony- called for emergency care and eventually got into a hospital. I won't bother to mention the horrors of her recovery, but suffice it to say, she attributes her lousy care to 'free' healthcare and would love to see something done to improve the system. Personally, I don't find that to be 'elective surgery', myself and her description of routine care sounded pretty bad the few times we've discussed it.

There are defiantly horror stories, and I can understand if this happened in the last year or 2 because Campbell as been hacking away making cut backs to the health care system in BC.

I think a certain degree of privatization is required of our health care. For example every hospital should have the same services and care available but if you have the money and wish to use one of the few private one than you can. This would actually reduce some of the waits in the other hospitals, while provided faster services to those with no patience or don't mind spending tons of money for minor surgery. I am a cheapskate and don't mind surfer ring for a few days.

It isn't entirely free. In Alberta we have to pay around $130CAN every 2 or 3 months or so for health care. I believe that is the highest in the country.

[ 07-17-2003, 01:58 PM: Message edited by: pritchke ]

[Rokenn]

I heard on the radio yesterday that Buenos Ares began the first city in Latin America to legalize civil unions for same sex couples. Several other South American countries are currently debating this as well. So pretty so the good 'ol USA will be getting squeezed on this from both directions [img]smile.gif[/img]

edit: to stay on topic, when you are darn canadians going to apologize to the world for Celine Dion? [img]tongue.gif[/img]

[ 07-17-2003, 02:57 PM: Message edited by: Rokenn ]

[Djinn Raffo]

Originally posted by Rokenn: edit: to stay on topic, when you are darn canadians going to apologize to the world for Celine Dion? [img]tongue.gif[/img]

Hell she lives in Las Vegas now.. the matter is out of our hands.

[Rokenn]

Originally posted by Djinn Raffo: quote: Originally posted by Rokenn: edit: to stay on topic, when you are darn canadians going to apologize to the world for Celine Dion? [img]tongue.gif[/img]

Hell she lives in Las Vegas now.. the matter is out of our hands. [/QUOTE]She is still canadian, can't you indite her as a war criminal or something? [img]tongue.gif[/img]

[Animal]

Originally posted by Cloudbringer: Animal, my only comment is about the 'elective surgery' being the only waiting list. I have a friend on Vancouver Island who's an expat American, married to a Canadian and quite in love with Canada (been there many years now), but her one and only major complaint is the lousy health care. (her description!) She told me that when she had gallstones and was passing out from the pain, they put her on a gurney and told her she'd have to wait....she was literally banging her head on the wall when they told her she would need surgery and would be put on a waiting list. A few days later she was hemoraging and in agony- called for emergency care and eventually got into a hospital. I won't bother to mention the horrors of her recovery, but suffice it to say, she attributes her lousy care to 'free' healthcare and would love to see something done to improve the system. Personally, I don't find that to be 'elective surgery', myself and her description of routine care sounded pretty bad the few times we've discussed it.

BC has been under stress do to much needed budget cuts these last few years, and the medi-care profession is one area that is highly affected. Unfortunately due to strikes and walk outs to protest the cuts, patient care has suffered. Certain hospitals have been affected worse than others, such as lower income areas. Granted it is something we need to work on, but while we wait for that, it's a price we pay to live in paradise. [img]smile.gif[/img]

[Cloudbringer]

Originally posted by Animal: quote: Originally posted by Cloudbringer: Animal, my only comment is about the 'elective surgery' being the only waiting list. I have a friend on Vancouver Island who's an expat American, married to a Canadian and quite in love with Canada (been there many years now), but her one and only major complaint is the lousy health care. (her description!) She told me that when she had gallstones and was passing out from the pain, they put her on a gurney and told her she'd have to wait....she was literally banging her head on the wall when they told her she would need surgery and would be put on a waiting list. A few days later she was hemoraging and in agony- called for emergency care and eventually got into a hospital. I won't bother to mention the horrors of her recovery, but suffice it to say, she attributes her lousy care to 'free' healthcare and would love to see something done to improve the system. Personally, I don't find that to be 'elective surgery', myself and her description of routine care sounded pretty bad the few times we've discussed it.

BC has been under stress do to much needed budget cuts these last few years, and the medi-care profession is one area that is highly affected. Unfortunately due to strikes and walk outs to protest the cuts, patient care has suffered. Certain hospitals have been affected worse than others, such as lower income areas. Granted it is something we need to work on, but while we wait for that, it's a price we pay to live in paradise. [img]smile.gif[/img] [/QUOTE]Now if healthcare is 'free' to all, why would lower income areas be hurting worse for hospitals? I don't understand the concept, then. I thought it was EQUAL care for all, as in EVERYBODY is covered and gets good health care, at least that's what is sold as the ideal! Thing is, it obviously isn't working that well, so I agree with those who say it needs an overhaul.

I was appalled when my friend Melinda told me about her experiences (above) but a mutual friend of ours (elderly gentleman) had a worse situation waiting for an opening to get needed heart surgery and my co-worker's sister (over on the east side of the country, rural and north of Montreal- I forget the name of the town) had been trying to get doctors to see she was ill for a year, but the 'free' doctors kept telling her it was all in her head....FINALLY she got one to send her for tests that showed massive heart problems- the woman had apparently had several strokes! In the meantime, she'd lost her job because they thought she was goldbricking thanks to the many doctors saying she was faking or imagining her illness! Now she's fighting to get back her retirement benefits.

Anyway, I'll stop with the stories of people I know.. LOL, I could go on for a while and it's only half on topic. [img]smile.gif[/img]

[Djinn Raffo]

Their are some horror stories for sure, but i figure it is like that everywhere.

[Animal]

Money talks, Cloudy. The universal language. It's the funding to the various hospitals that's the issue, and certain areas are better funded than others. The health care system is universal and everyone is entitled to the same level of care, but it depends on which hospital you go to. Probably, the same everywhere I would think.