Why use socialized healthcare when you can fly to the USA?

[Danno 1,228]

I love the quotes in this piece, it tells you all you need to know about the Politically Powerful.

Heart surgery to sideline N.L. premier for weeks

Prognosis 'very, very good,' acting premier says

Last Updated: Tuesday, February 2, 2010 | 12:37 PM NT Comments905Recommend234

CBC News

Premier Danny Williams is at an undisclosed location in the U.S. preparing to have heart surgery. (Jeff McIntosh/Canadian Press)

Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Danny Williams will be sidelined from three to 12 weeks because of heart surgery he'll undergo at an undisclosed location in the United States, acting premier Kathy Dunderdale says.

Williams, 60, travelled to the U.S. on Monday on the advice of his doctors after weeks of consultations, Dunderdale said.

"I'm not going into the details of the premier's condition," she told reporters at a news conference in St. John's on Tuesday morning. "Any heart surgery is serious. However, his prognosis is very, very good."

Dunderdale said the surgery would happen this week but refused to provide specifics on the day or where Williams is being treated, other than to say he has "gone to a renowned expert in the procedure that he needs to have done."

She also wouldn't say whether Williams could have had the procedure performed in the province or elsewhere in Canada.

"Having the surgery done in the province was never an option that was offered to him," Dunderdale said.

"Ultimately, we have to be the gatekeepers of our own health, and he has taken medical advice from a number of different sources," she said. "Based on all of the medical advice that he's received, he is doing what is best for him, to do everything he can to ensure that he can have the best outcome from the surgery and that he can be back on his feet and back here doing his job as quickly as possible."

Dunderdale said Williams will speak about the procedure and his decision to go to the U.S. for treatment when he recovers.

"The premier has made a commitment that once he is through this procedure and he is well enough, he's going to talk about the whole process and share as much detail as he's comfortable doing at that time."

The CEO of Eastern Health, the province's largest health authority, tried to dispel any notion that Williams left the province because of a lack of faith in the province's — or Canada's — health-care system.

"There's no question that this is not a queue-jumping issue," Vickie Kaminski told reporters.

She said patient confidentiality restricts her from discussing the specifics of Williams' heart condition or the kind of medical procedure he will undergo. However, she confirmed the premier had all of his diagnostic work and tests done at Eastern Health.

"He certainly has told us that he was very satisfied with the care that he received," she said.

Kaminski said it was his doctors who suggested Williams leave the province for treatment.

"The recommendations from his physician were for referrals outside. The premier has done what he was recommended."

Kaminski said people shouldn't view his decision to seek medical help elsewhere as a condemnation of Canada's medical health system.

"It could be something as simple as a slightly new technique that's being tried that gives a speedy recovery and that's not yet approved in Canada," she said.

Kaminski said it might also be a procedure that can't be performed for whatever reason by medical professionals in the province.

Doctors in Newfoundland and Labrador refer two patients a month to physicians outside the province, depending on the medical condition. Kaminski said about 50 people are on a waiting list for heart surgery — down dramatically from two years ago — and the amount of time those people have to wait is medically acceptable.

Dunderdale will be acting premier until Williams returns to the job.

Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/newfoundland-labr...l#ixzz0eXCxehwM

[luckytxn 2,265]

Cool this is the third thread about this since yesterday. Hope this one does better.

Edited February 4, 2010 by luckytxn

[Peikko 1,575]

If you have no better arguments than this, give up now.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Cool this is the third thread about this since yesterday. Hope this one does better.

My thread kicked butt! I got 32 replies! Take that, AJ and Danno! :dance: :dance:

[Danno 1,228]

If you have no better arguments than this, give up now.

What better argument could present its self......"those who can".... come here in their time of need, rather than use the system we are told to pattern ours after.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Its a false argument - nothing that is on the table right now amounts to modeling the US healthcare system after the Canadian one. Nothing, zip, nada, zilcho!

Its disingenous too to take this story as proof that the Canadian system is broken. Its also ignorant - given that the perceived failures of the system are the only thing the so-called "Skeptics" are interested in. A few headlines and you're done - that's about the limit of the analysis.

[Ali G. 37]

This is ridiculous propaganda. Various doctors from around the world have expertise in certain areas. Therefore, it's not rocket science that someone would want to be treated by the best in the field. To assume this has something to do with the health care systems, is just laughable.

Edited February 4, 2010 by Booyah

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

Too much maple syrup will do this. Silly Canadians.

[Malrothien 6]

If you have never experienced the Canadian health system and only go by the BS propaganda campaigns, just go ahead and shut up.

[ValerieA 350]

We don't know why he did this yet - but one thing to remember, if the Newfoundland health care is like that in Saskatchewan and Ontario, if the procedure is not available in Canada, but is medically necessary and approved, the health care will cover the bills for having the procedure done in the US. Not that Danny Williams can't afford to pay for it himself!

I am in the US right now, and I miss Cdn health care so much. No worries, I could just go into my doctor (he was in a medi-clinic, that did make it easier) and get looked at right away. The most I ever had to wait to get into a specialist was 2 months, and I certainly was low on the priority list. And the waiting lists in Ontario were worse than Saskatchewan, but no where near as bad as what they made them out to be in the US media.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

I like long wait times. That's why I have Kaiser. Doctors make me nervous.

Edited February 4, 2010 by Lone Ranger

[Ali G. 37]

If you have never experienced the Canadian health system and only go by the BS propaganda campaigns, just go ahead and shut up.

Bingo! I honestly fear using the health care system here. I actually have to bloody policies, which means double the coverage, and still fear using the system; as it's a pain in the butt. If I came down with anything serious, I would be on the next flight to Australia for treatment. The only time I would use a doctor here is if I knew they were a specialist in the field. Great doctors and nurses here but a ######-house system.

Prior to using the US system, I used to talk it up to those back in Aus, as I didn't know how it properly worked.

I no longer mention it. period

Edited February 4, 2010 by Booyah

[Malrothien 6]

We don't know why he did this yet - but one thing to remember, if the Newfoundland health care is like that in Saskatchewan and Ontario, if the procedure is not available in Canada, but is medically necessary and approved, the health care will cover the bills for having the procedure done in the US. Not that Danny Williams can't afford to pay for it himself!

I am in the US right now, and I miss Cdn health care so much. No worries, I could just go into my doctor (he was in a medi-clinic, that did make it easier) and get looked at right away. The most I ever had to wait to get into a specialist was 2 months, and I certainly was low on the priority list. And the waiting lists in Ontario were worse than Saskatchewan, but no where near as bad as what they made them out to be in the US media.

The wait times in BC for certain specialists are disgusting. My MIL waited 3 YEARS to see a pain specialist.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Bingo! I honestly fear using the health care system here. I actually have to bloody policies, which means double the coverage, and still fear using the system; as it's a pain in the butt. If I came down with anything serious, I would be on the next flight to Australia for treatment. The only time I would use a doctor here is if I knew they were a specialist in the field. Great doctors and nurses here but a ######-house system.

Prior to using the US system, I used to talk it up to those back in Aus, as I didn't know how it properly worked.

I no longer mention it. period

"Danny boy, oh Danny boy, ..."

[Ali G. 37]

The wait times in BC for certain specialists are disgusting. My MIL waited 3 YEARS to see a pain specialist.

Is that because the system is screwed or because there are not enough specialist in that field?

"Danny boy, oh Danny boy, ..."

Is Danny your gay lover or something? He's your other lone ranger.

Edited February 4, 2010 by Booyah