Best Health Care System in the World?

Wait...so you mean, it will negatively effect the rich and middle class if the poor can afford health care?

 

The simplest test of whether a country has the best health care system in the world is the life expectancy figures. The US languishes below almost all Western European countries, which of course all have universal health care. The real "death panels" are the groups of politicians who think it's OK that some people are covered and some aren't on the basis of income.

 

It all depends what hospital a person goes to and who they see there.
True story. My third son was badly burned around two with boiling water from a babysitters tea pot. Nothing but flesh was on his face, hands etc. Went to one hosptial in Naples that said that nothing they could do but drug him up so he would not feel the pain. They said if I was willing to pay the price for a helicopter they could transport him to Tampa. He is in Tampa. Doctor said he would have to do skin grafts right away. Friend calls me and tells me a boy grows but skin grafts do not so he would end up looking like a quilt. Find out that Miami has a special hospital that race car drivers go to after crashes. Had my kid sent there when he was off the iv pain killers and was on liquid ones. They had steroid creams and all kinds of expermental treatments from France. He was also then fitted with a pressure bandage and we were taught how to measure the flesh with all kinds of stuff many times a day. We were instructed to keep him out of the sun for a year and a half so when the skin comes back it will not be two toned. We were instructed to seal off the windows for the first six months so no sun makes contact with his flesh to give it a chance to heal. He wore the pressure bandage which was like a face mask for it went over his head and down to his neck for quite some time with different fittings as he grew. Point is, his face came back, Scars on the neck. But he has his face. It all depends. My heart goes out to those parents who had their kid at the wrong place at no fault of thier own. If one does not get the leads then it is all a crap shoot with people we are programed to trust.

 

I believe we have the best health care system in the world. We just don't have the best organized health care system in the world. All the same, I know someone who had a child that was burnt in a similar way--third degree burns from boiling water. The family could not afford the kind of care she required. The Shriners took care of her hospitalization and her care and today you can't tell that she was ever burnt.

I think that depending on the government for healthcare is just wrong. Back when communities, religious institutions, and private organizations took care of people, the government was not involved and they got care that was excellent by the standard of their times. It was when government got involved that standards plummeted.

 

Tough kid you got there Andy... and happy to hear you all made it through such a tough time too.

No offense meant here HM... but I strongly disagree with your 2nd paragraph. Our point-of-views are near opposite.

IMO, the healthcare of the 19th century and halfway into the 20th was woefully insufficient and brutal... for the lucky few who could convince a doc to visit them. What the government has done more actively since the 19th century though is prevent plagues and epidemics from occurring more often than they would have without government financial support. What's occuring now is a pauper-support program, a move towards a more civilized society.

 

Shriners is the best. A branch of the masons actually that is all about the kids. The doctors donate their time and medical services and aid are free. We donate to them most years. there is actually a tampa hospital, one in ohio and i think texas. When we were at Tampa General, we were told nothing about them but were at Ryder Trauma in Miami which works with them with kids. Shriners did the face pressure bandage but the creams were from Ryder and were like three hundred dollars per small tube. Insurance paid little but would have paid for the skin grafting. From my viewpoint, The medical treatment in this nation runs from great to sucks. It is a crap shoot unless you have insider information.

Thanks IQ for the kind words.

 

America has the best system that can be bought.

 

Maybe you can sing another tune, Tom? Or at least add an expository verse explaining why you feel that only the rich can benefit? My roommate just left her husband and is penniless, but she just spent a week in the hospital in a private room while her diabetes and pneumonia was being treated--and yet she was able to come to an equitable payment arrangement with them. I'm sure they'd like their money faster than she can pay it, but it's better than them writing it off entirely.

 

That's all he has.

 

I'm certain that many of my illnesses are treatable, or would be more treatable if I had quality care... but quality care is expensive. All the docs I've seen over the years look at my income first, then provide low levels of affordable treatment. So when tom says "America has the best system that can be bought.", I think of the fact that, with money you can get whatever care and treatments you need... but without money you are lucky if you can even get in to see the doc... since they check your income first.

 

Sounds to me like you need to find another doctor.

BTW. my guess is that if we lived in England or Canada (let alone some other socialist medical state), both my wife and I would be dead today.

 

Why we have a very good private medical care system over here if one wishes to use it, it is called BUPA

 

Sorry about your illnesses. I agree.

 

That is an option, and I have had several over the years. But you're not listening... I said they check your income first.

 

Thank you, but they haven't brought me down or limited me in most ways, and I'm grateful for that. I constantly see men, women, and children who are far, far worse off than myself... so I consider myself lucky in that respect. Not healthy, but not extremely unhealthy.

 

No, they all do not check you income - really.

 

Hey Tom, noticed you back. Wondered what you think about this Penn State and shower thing but right now it may not be appropriate to discuss it. It seems to many Men both straight and gay can be monsters.

 

Can't argue with that. This guy is a republican though, from what I understand. LOL

 

The tune is always the same with the wealthy right "business" folk. I can't help it's boring. Maybe you should call the driver huh? Isn't there a dog show, an opera or something to attend?

 

I dunno. college campus, northeastern state. Sounds like....a wolf in sheeps clothing, a monster disguised as a human being.