Single-payer stories: Die, or pay $450,000

A Canadian is forced to pay for life-saving surgery:

Adolfo Flora had a simple choice. He could either die of liver cancer within six months or spend $450,000 for treatment overseas.

Flora chose life and now an Ontario Divisional Court has ruled he will have to pay for that.

“It’s a very significant decision and not in favour of the public,” he said last night when reached at his home in North York, adding he has not spoken with his lawyer about appealing the decision. “At this point in time, I need some time to deal with it.”

This week’s ruling was a blow for the 57-year-old retired high school teacher, who contracted hepatitis C from a tainted blood transfusion and was diagnosed with liver cancer in 1999. He spent $450,000 for a transplant in England after being denied the life-saving help in Ontario.