[wwally0]

I strongly recommend that everyone see Michael Moore’s SiCKO. It’s been a while since I’ve been angered, inspired, repulsed by the content of a movie. The DVD contains support interviews as bonus material outside of the movie itself. These interviews show how insurance companies reward executives for denying the greatest number of patients healthcare. The total disregard for human life leaves my stomach tied in knots. The greatest shock to me is that people who were insured and faced with cancer, heart attack or disease are loosing their homes and declaring bankruptcy. I hope that the DVD release of SiCKO amounts to more than a few days of talk at the water cooler and instead sparks a grass roots movement for reform of insurance, healthcare and a curbing of big pharma’s extortionate profiteering. I think I’ll be ruminating over this film for some time to come. Guy

[chasmo]

Guy;

you bring up some good points. I would say though that Cubans healthcare doesn't hold a candle to ours. Try to get a DBS in Cuba.

while our systems (Canada's and the USA.) need improvement, they are still the class of world. I know here in the USA you can get the best care available anywhere. While costs are a problem, for those with insurance, which is the majority of us, the care we recieve is without peer. Like I say, it by no means is perfect, but our healthcare system was unfairly portrayed in SiCKO.

One can find a set of circumstances to fit any point of view. healthcare costs are a complex problem that cannot be well-explored in a documentary format. (maybe an 8 hour mini-series?!!)

it isn't easy to figure this one out!

Charlie

[K.Ibsen]

Charlie,

Our health care system here in the US is good for those who have access to it, but it sure isn't the best in the world. I think I saw a study where the US was rated in the bottom half of the top ten.

I can tell you this, that I know for sure: I just had an intestinal operation last fall that really helped me. The procedure had just been approved for use in the US. That probably sounds good. What won't sound so good, however, is that the procedure had been available in Europe for more than fifteen years. So I had to live fifteen years with a condition that I didn't have to for what reason?

The only answer I can think of is that our system is not as good as it could be. Broken perhaps? So let's not brag about it. Let's just get to work at making it better.

Karl

PS: I haven't seen SICKO. I'd probably find it too depressing, and I don't need that.

[MKane]

Those who live in major metropolitan areas or near major universities may have access to quality medical care, but those of us in rural America do not. I traveled 500 miles for DBS.

[LISTERINE51]

hi guys

i'm from the UK, where we have the N.H.S. (national health service).
It caters for everyone, regardless of your financial status. It isn't perfect, but it works. Contributions are deducted from wages/salaries throughout your working life to fund this healthcare and pensions/benefits.
Private care is also available, but invariably the doctor is the same.
Treatment shouldn't be determined by the amount of money in somebody's account or by lack of it. This system is beneficial to everyone, including those unfortunate people who have been dealt a bad hand in life.
The medications used, are very expensive but are subsidised to acceptable levels. Free prescriptions are common in many cases.
Access to the neurologists/specialists is no problem providing you have made the appointment.
If you are travelling businessman/woman or just on vacation, you're just as entitled to NHS treatment as anyone else.
The USA has some of the finest surgeons and medical researchers in the world. The pioneers of the medicinal science are many from your country.
New procedures and exploratory trials are in abundance throughout the USA.
It can be no doubt that the USA leads the world in many areas of science, especially medicine and technology.
The USA is also the richest country in the world, and should be able to support all of its citizens and its guests alike, without first determining whether that person is capable of financing that treatment.
As somebody commented, there is very little cover from specialists in rural areas and patients have to travel many miles for appointments.
Is this because there is no requirement of such expertise, or is it because the specialist can earn far more in the big cities?
Some might say, that's the way of the world
if that is the way of the world? Then it's about time we changed it!
Good luck and happy living

listerine