The Obama administration's plans for health care "reform" will make the United States like Canada where citizens wait months or years to see specialists even in life-threatening situations. That's the model in EVERY country that has socialized medicine - long lines for treatment. (In England abortions take precedence over other operations. Killing lives comes ahead of saving lives.) Do you think Ted Kennedy, Hillary Clinton, Al Gore, and other "important" people will wait in line like the average Joe Nobody? If you're in the same social strata as those elitists you'll always be able to get treatment. If you're not, fight socialized medicine now before you find out you can't see a doctor for a brain tumor or cancer until six months after you're dead.
I am very disappointed by media’s superficial coverage of Shona Homes, the Waterdown woman who has aided the American right wing by filming a commercial in which she describes herself as a ‘brain tumour survivor” whose life was saved because she used the U.S. private system to attend to her health problems. In allowing herself to be used by those U.S. vested interests who oppose any hint of public health care (even though it is the only Western industrialized country that leaves its citizens to the capricious mercy of the private insurers, and seems unbothered by the fact that 50 million Americans have no coverage), there is one major problem: her story as reported isn’t quite true.
ReplyDeleteA quick visit to the Mayo Clinic website (www.mayoclinic.org/patientstories/story-339.html) reveals her actual condition, Rathke's cleft cyst, described as a “rare, fluid-filled sac [that] grows near the pituitary gland at the base of the brain and eventually can cause hormone and vision problems.” Nowhere is it described as potentially fatal, a clear contradiction of Ms Holmes’ claim in the commercial that within six months she would have been dead if left to the vagaries of the Canadian health system.
I feel especially upset by the propagandizing nature of her commercial due to the fact that last year my brother-in-law died of brain cancer. The truth is that from the moment he was diagnosed (days after he had his initial seizure) to the time he died, he received exemplary and timely care from a team of dedicated specialists employed by our allegedly flawed system in Ontario. Unfortunately, the nature of his brain cancer, multiforme glioblastoma, the same suffered by Ted Kennedy, meant a fatal outcome was inevitable.
In my view, despite her anxiety and suffering, Ms Holmes should be ashamed of herself for undermining Barrack Obama’s efforts to bring some humanity to a system that is badly in need of it, and calling into disrepute a Canadian system that we would all be much worse off without.
My condolences on the death of your brother. I'm glad you feel he received good care.
ReplyDeleteWith regard to Shona Holmes. Here's a section of the description from the Mayo story:
"Their further tests revealed an increase in the size of her cyst over a short period of time as well as progressively worsening vision. "I was concerned that the pressure on Shona's nerves were causing her to become blind," says Dr. Patel. "We needed to remove the cyst to save her vision."
I would say a fast-growing tumor, whether its a fluid filled cyst or another form of tumor, is a source of pretty serious concern. I did a little researcha and two of the problems of not treating Rathke's cleft cyst, which is also described as a benign tumor, are hydrocephalus and meningitis, both of which ARE life-threatening. The doctors at MAYO recommended IMMEDIATE SURGERY and you have no way of knowing what advice they were giving the patient privately with regard to the severity of her condition, so to presume she was dishonest is a stretch.
If I had a rapidly growing anything in my brain I'd be more than a little concerned. And even if BLINDNESS was the ONLY serious problem of the delay would you consider that an acceptable outcome? Returning to the United States seems to me to have been a prudent decision on her part.
Shona Homes is a fraud and her story has been completely debunked. Any patient under Canada's medical system that is facing a life threatening illness or medical emergency is seen immediately by physicians. There is no wait.
ReplyDeleteIts unfortunate that these phony scare tactics are believed as fact without question. I really wish the media would start investigating these claims before rubber stamping anything a political organization with a bent agenda (left or right) tries to state as fact.
There is plenty of legitimate arguments to make about Obama's health plan proposal on both sides, but lets have an honest debate and stick to the facts instead of phony propaganda by political extremists on both sides of the aisle.
So you're claiming that Shona Holmes didn't have a tumor, wasn't in danger of going blind, and wouldn't have to wait six months in Canada for treatment?
ReplyDeleteFraud is a pretty serious charge. I looked for it on the internet using Shona's name and fraud and the most I could come up with was a TV story by Dana Bash on Video Cafe that says, "Despite Shona Holmes' horror story, Canadian officials insist most patients with life-threatening problems are treated quickly." http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/node/29453/print
Can you provide proof for your claim?
The fact is that the health care plan proposed by Obama would destroy health care in this country and put bureaucrats in charge of medical decisions at the cost of over a trillion dollars in ten years. (Whatever happened to the ballyhooed right to privacy that makes medical care a decision between the patient and the doctor? Oh, I forgot, that was just a lie to justify abortion.)
85% of Americans have health care coverage. A third of those who don't are illegal aliens. Another half of the remaining can afford health care but choose not to have it for whatever reason. The remaining are not denied health care since hospitals are required to treat and there are signs posted in the emergency rooms of every hospital (in English and Spanish) stating such.
The Democrats health care plan is another big power and money grab. But, hey, we're already bankrupt so what's another trillion down the hole?
Well, Moniz, the quote below is on the Mayo Clinic website. Mayo is one of the leading health clinics in the country and they said the MRI detected a "brain tumor." Why don't you quibble with them.
ReplyDelete"Shona Holmes was in trouble: The list of her symptoms included headaches, sleeplessness, dizziness, low libido and, worst of all, rapidly deteriorating vision. Her family doctor in Canada ordered an MRI, and a brain tumor was detected. But it would take months for her to get on the appointment calendar of a neurologist or endocrinologist in Canada."
"If I had a rapidly growing anything in my brain I'd be more than a little concerned. And even if BLINDNESS was the ONLY serious problem of the delay would you consider that an acceptable outcome? Returning to the United States seems to me to have been a prudent decision on her part."
ReplyDeleteAgreed....telling the American public I would have been dead in six months...not so prudent.
Can you provide proof for your claim?
The fact is that the health care plan proposed by Obama would destroy health care in this country and put bureaucrats in charge of medical decisions at the cost of over a trillion dollars in ten years. (Whatever happened to the ballyhooed right to privacy that makes medical care a decision between the patient and the doctor? Oh, I forgot, that was just a lie to justify abortion.)
85% of Americans have health care coverage. A third of those who don't are illegal aliens. Another half of the remaining can afford health care but choose not to have it for whatever reason. The remaining are not denied health care since hospitals are required to treat and there are signs posted in the emergency rooms of every hospital (in English and Spanish) stating such.
Can you ask yourself the same question you start with? The "fact" is???? For every expert you find on one side of this argument, you will find one on the other.
Where are your health care coverage claims coming from??? Have you researched all these people that could have health care but choose not to? You ask for proof from those who reply yet provide none yourself.
My opinion is that you are demonizing those who don't share your opinions and beliefs. Must we all fall in line with your ideology?
To answer your question: "Where are your health care claims?" I refer you to Invesor's Business Daily which ran an 18 part series. They quote the Congressional Business Office, The Fraser Institute, a number of studies and polls, and the experience in Massachusetts of their failing system. (Tennessee is another example with a state system that is going bankrupt, reducing coverage and removing people from the rolls.) Take a look at IBD's series. I've posted about it today and provided a link.
ReplyDeleteWith regard to your statement about my "ideology," I demur. I'm a conservative, not an ideologue. Russell Kirk draws the distinction in his book The Politics of Prudence. The conservative believes politics is the art of the possible. Its purpose is to preserve order, justice, and freedom. The ideologue, on the other hand, sees politics as a means to an end to achieve his idea of utopia. Politics to him is a revolutionary instrument to get what he wants.
I'm not opposed to health care reform, but what the White House is proposing is ideology from start to finish and it is merciless. The taxpayers MUST fund abortion. Private programs (unless grandfathered) ARE ILLEGAL. This is a reduction of freedom with no evidence that people will be better off. And they are desparate to do it yesterday. Why the rush?
Thomas Jefferson said the best government is the least government. But we are seeing the biggest takeover of business in history by ideologues who have no respect for the Constitution or personal freedom if it gets in the way of their grandiose schemes.
So the ball's back in the liberal court. And I'd say you all have doing a pretty good job of demonizing Shona Holmes.