Canada's medical system hit by ruling

Robert · medicine forum Guru Joined: 28 Apr 2005 Posts: 1700

I don't have a link as this is off the local paper so I will have to only
take quotes from people.

Consumer advocates in Canada will be very happy with this ruling. It will
prevent deaths as they are not only attributable to AE of drugs.

by Clifford Krauss
New York Times News Service.
.........
In recent years,however, patients have been forced to wait longer periods
for diagnostic tests and elective surgery while the wealthy and
well-connected sought care in the United States or used influence to jump
ahead of lines...........

The court ruled that the waiting lists had become so long that they violated
patients "life and personal security,inviolability and freedom" under the
Quebec charter of human rights and freedoms.
The evidence in this case shows that delays in the public health care system
are widespread, and that, in some cases, patients die as a result of waiting
lists for public health care,"the Supreme Court ruled. "In sum, the
prohibition on obtaining private health insurance is not constitutional
where the public system fails to deliver reasonable services.."........
The federal government has threatened to hold back financial aid to
provinces that pressed ahead with private health care, but Somerville said
Ottawa would be less likely to do so now......

Supporters of the current system, however, have argued that a two-tier
system will draw doctors away from the public system, where there already is
a shortage of doctors, and only lengthen waiting lists...........

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