[Oe List ...] Health care is a moral issue, not a financial one.

Thu Sep 3 17:27:35 CDT 2009

As the man with his hand in the till said, "Who you gonna' believe, me or
your own eyes?"

Bill Schlesinger
Project Vida
3607 Rivera Ave
El Paso, TX 79905
(915) 533-7057 x 207
(915) 490-6148 mobile
(915) 533-7158 fax
bschlesinger.pv at tachc.org
www.projectvidaelpaso.org

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From: oe-bounces at wedgeblade.net [mailto:oe-bounces at wedgeblade.net] On Behalf
Of Nancy Lanphear
Sent: Thursday, September 03, 2009 4:02 PM
To: Order Ecumenical Community
Subject: Re: [Oe List ...] Health care is a moral issue, not a financial
one.

Well said, Robert!

Nancy

2009/9/3 Sandra Rafos <rafos at interlog.com>

Well, well, well, I am sorely disappointed to hear that my health care
system is on the verge of collapse.  Someone should inform the Canadian
citizenry rather than trying to mislead the people of the US.  As a dual
citizen I am deeply appreciative of the Health Care system in Canada.  

1.  Everyone is covered, even landed immigrants, i.e non-citizens.

2.  Service is provided through your primary physician.  The choice of a
physician is entirely yours.

3.  The primary physician provides treatment and determines the seriousness
of your illness or injury.

4.  Critical and life threatening cases are referred to hospitals and
specialists and treated immediately.  

5.  Referrals to specialists for non-life threatening cases wait for
treatment or services.

6.  Annual exams are free as well as a host of preventative tests;
mammograms, ekgs, colonoscopy, blood and urine analysis, chest x-rays, bone
density scans, etc.  

7.  Hospitals and doctors are private.  

8.  Fees for procedures are established by the Health Care system, and
doctors and hospitals are reimbursed through it.

9.  All procedures and semi-private hospital room is paid by the Health Care
system.

10.  The price of drugs is established by the government.  

11.  Over 65 there is no charge for drugs.  Younger than 65, there may be
modest co-pay.  

12.  Many people carry supplemental health care for dental, eyeglasses,
massage, chiropractor, private room, travel out-of-country, etc.  

13.  People CANNOT sue their doctor.  Malpractice cases are handled through
a board of doctors and health officials.  The out come of judgements can be
fines, suspension of a license for a period of time, or loss of a license
permanently.  

14.  Ergo, there is no hefty malpractice insurance that has to be carried by
doctors, which goes a long way to reducing medical costs.

I have had knee surgery, eye surgery, surgery for pre-cancer conditions,
treatment for shingles, flu shots, medications and have never paid for
anything.  

This is not just for me or my family but for everyone.  I sleep well at
night knowing that my friends and neighbors (known or unknown to me) are
covered.

My personal view is that healthcare is a RIGHT for everyone, just like a
child has a right to an education, or people have a right to clean water,
electricity, fuel for home, highways, police and fire protection, etc.  All
of the above are provided for or regulated by the government.  This is a
moral issue, not a financial one, and I hope Obama has the courage to take
it to the mat.

I am also clear that if you want a universal system, then it has to be paid
for.  Taxes in Canada are high, and the burden falls heaviest on the
wealthiest.  It is a fair system, and the cost of care per citizen is about
1/2 that of the US and life expectancy is higher than that of the US.  I
have never heard of a family in Canada having to go bankrupt, because they
couldn't pay their medical bills.  

With respect,  

Bob Rafos

On 2-Sep-09, at 8:02 PM, Susan Fertig wrote:

I heard it repeated several times on different media late last week -- I'll
try to find out which Canadian minister it was who was quoted.  Did none of
you in ICA Canada hear this?

Susan

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From: oe-bounces at wedgeblade.net [mailto:oe-bounces at wedgeblade.net] On Behalf
Of LAURELCG at aol.com
Sent: Wednesday, September 02, 2009 11:22 AM
To: oe at wedgeblade.net
Subject: Re: [Oe List ...] A Matter of Human Rights

In a message dated 9/1/2009 9:31:24 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time,
susan at gmdtech.com writes:

Canada has already proclaimed that its health system is unsustainable and
has warned the U.S. against using it as a model.

I wasn't aware of this, Susan. Do you have a source?

Thanks,

Jann

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