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>Just to be clear, I am a supporter of national health care. However, I am not convinced that it produces the same quality care and availability of treatment as the system we have now. I believe it can, but I don't think that has been achieved (yet) in any other country. Ours is outrageous when it comes to cost, but there is availability for everyone and no waiting list for specialized or expensive care and I truly believe we have one of the highest levels of quality care in the world. My daughter's immediate CT scan and MRI are just one example for availability. Two winters ago I fell down some very steep stairs in the middle of the night and I received an immediate CT scan and MRI as well and that was in another city and in a different hospital. Pittsburgh has more MRI machines than all of Canada. Where we are lacking is in medical mistakes and the treatment of chronically ill patients and affordability. I have received medical treatment in France, Germany, Panama, and another country(s) I won't mention. France SUCKED and Germany's care was excellent but lacking in personal care that is standard in the U.S. Panama actually was very good but they lose a lot of doctors to the U.S. and the oversight is lacking.
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>Recent study results (March 9, 2009):
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http://www.healthimaging.com/index.php?option=com_articles&view=portal&id=publication:9:article:16596:mri-prioritization-necessary-to-reduce-canadian-wait-timesYes
I saw your msg about your daughter. (glad she's ok. Nothing like one of your children to get the pulse racing) and was interested that she had an MRI. It sounds like they're a lot more common there than here. I think you'd need a pretty substantial injury here to be whipped off for one. Though another opinion would be that you get a lot of imaging because its expensive and profitable.
Interesting your French experience was poor. My father had a heart attack in Frances and the care was excellent.
