Comments on: Stossel’s "Sick in America": Blogosphere reaction

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 21 Sep 2007 16:42:00 +0000

Wake up! Don’t fall for Stossel’s libertarian propaganda. Canadians used to have a U.S. style private system. Virtually none of them want to go back to it. Canada has a significantly higher life expectancy than the U.S.. Also, Canadian patients, nurses, and doctors consistently approve of their system in public opinion polls. The same is true in the U.K. where virtually no one wants a U.S. style system. Yes, there is waiting for some non-emergency services, but you do get excellent care and you don’t go bankrupt in the process. In the U.S. the first question out of the doctor’s mouth is “what kind of insurance do you have?” while in Canada, U.K., and other developed countries the doctor can focus on taking care of you. Well, I will be surprised if my comment makes it through but it’s worth a try.

By: Zagreus Ammon

Zagreus Ammon — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 01:44:00 +0000

I liked the show. It was thoughtful and well-researched and only just a little manipulative.

People die, in various places, for various reasons and is not a good enough reason to explain or justify a health system.

There is no such thing as free care. Even unreimbursed carte to uninsured individuals costs a heap somewhere in the value chain. The end of that chain is quality of life. The question should be quality of life and quality of care. Nobody ever told me they would judge my physician's care by the kind of car I drove or how much money I made. I would have become a cardiologoist instead of settle for the tougher job of primary care.

If money were the final arbiter, then all health systems are substandard, since the US spends the most.

I have some thoughts on the Canadian system... executivephysician.blogspot.com

By: Brooke Lorren

Brooke Lorren — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 07:28:00 +0000

People don’t have a right to anything, really. The problem is that they have no choice but to wait, sometimes dying in the process. It is illegal for any doctor to operate outside of the substandard system that is in place, so people have no choice but to wait, or go across the border to the United States.

On the other hand, dogs and cats can be seen right away. Something is wrong in a society when animals get better health care than humans.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 20:02:00 +0000

“I assume that’s sarcasm?”

Not in the least. Do people have a right to see specialists in any particular time period?

By: doublebonus

doublebonus — Sun, 16 Sep 2007 16:23:00 +0000

Kaiser is the best of both worlds. I get to pay monthly premiums AND get to wait months to see a doctor.

By: Mike

Mike — Sun, 16 Sep 2007 15:57:00 +0000

anon 1:00

I assume that’s sarcasm?

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sun, 16 Sep 2007 06:00:00 +0000

“People have to wait for months to see a specialist, even for life-threatening conditions.”

So?

By: Dr. Val

Dr. Val — Sat, 15 Sep 2007 15:53:00 +0000

I really enjoyed Stossel’s piece. I know that he’s been criticized repeatedly and accused for “not understanding the issues” but I personally feel that consumer empowerment and removing the middle man is the best way to go. Transparency, reduced red tape, IT efficiency, personal responsibility, assistance for the poor, and convenient access to affordable basic care services are the way forward. At least, I hope that’s what we choose as a country.