The latest attempt to demonize universal health care

[Narkos]

All over the rightie blogosphere, the latest screed is about a lack of helicopter air ambulance services in Montreal and how that could have prevented Natasha Richardson's death. Going over the details I know, she refused care, and then was appropriately triaged to the nearest hospital. Even if a helo were available, the ground transport probably would have been just as fast. I know my rightie relatives are going to use this as an example of the EVILS of Canadian health care, so if anyone has good debunks it would be appreciated.

[madrchsod]

1. facts are lost on the right wing and a waste of time to engage them ,but....

ask them if they will not be signing up for social security and medicare.

[KansDem]

2. Of course they will...

After all, they paid for it so they are entitled to them. But before anyone castigates me, it is their sense of entitlement that makes them fine with this, not any sense of need among the needy...

[msongs]

3. we have "blue cross" which is a parasite - it skims 30% for itself off the top and provides NO

health care of any sort whatsoever. That 30% is income for paper pushers and bureaucrats whose primary job is to deny health care in as many cases as possible because spending money on sick people cuts into profits.

Msongs

edit - BTW if our employer would give the $$ directly to our HMO everyone would benefit except for the parasite/leech known as Blue Cross

[RC]

6. Blue Cross Blue Shield board promises changes

http://www.inforum.com/event/article/id/234211/

Blue Cross Blue Shield board promises changes
Revelations including a $250,000 reward trip to the Caribbean and a $2.2 million “golden parachute” for its ousted top executive have prompted some to ask, Where was the Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota board?

[spin]

4. This "demonizing" of universal heath care...

reminds me of how every time the concealed carry issue comes up for a vote in a state, you hear of how there will be daily shootouts in the streets and the state will resemble the "Old West".

Of course, when the issue passes, none of these terrible predictions come true.

Note: I'm not trying to inject the issue of concealed weapons into the discussion on health care, but the tactics used to stall both issues are the same and despicable. What the anti-health care people is saying is, "If we ever have universal heath care, people will be dying on the streets because there will not be enough resources to care for them. We will return to the middle ages!"

[nadinbrzezinski]

5. Yuo got it, she did sign an AMA

anywhere in the world a patient who can play the game of twenty questions and refuses care, there is little medics can do on that first contact

And I have seen these kinds of cases as well, when working as a medic

One of my patients, he was slightly combative... we actually called medical control because we suspected that combativeness was part of it, never mind family said that he was always cranky

He was alert and oriented times four... but was a little cranky

He signed the paperwork... no way, no how, no matter how many times we 'splained it... he'd go to the damn fucking hospital, it was a waste of his time... and by extention my waste of time

An hour later, I took him to the hospital where he later died.

Would an hour made a difference? We will never know

Them are the facts

And she refused the initial care

Oh and for your rw friends, kindly point out that no sky resort has a helo on standby, in north america

They can land helos, but none is on standby... would be a waste of money and time.

Not that this fact will make any difference

[bottomtheweaver]

10. link?

[ConcernedCanuk]

7. They can demonize it all they want, it won't change our minds - we're keeping it

.
.
.

I have a friend who was literally crippled, could hardly walk due to poor circulation from his heart to his legs

He had his gut cut open from his sternum to his crotch, then both legs to replace arteries that fed his legs

That was 3 months ago

now he is walking and working fine - he's 61

Medical bill?

ZERO

Woulda wiped out any savings he has/had, and probably lost his house as well

I have my complaints about our system,

but our system sure beats worrying about financial security, especially in our later years when medical issues increase.

We pay big taxes through our Employment, Sales, and Income tax for this.

I'm now 58, and damm glad I'm on THIS side of the border.

I need two operations in the near future, both are already paid for by my/our taxes.

One will leave me partially disabled for over half a year,

and I have to move shortly,

so I'm hoping to get moved BEFORE the disabling surgery,

but my medical expenses are covered for life

whew!

[Vinca]

8. Mention some of the recent cases of people dying

in U.S. ER waiting rooms. I think there's video of some of them dying. No helicopter, no ambulance, they got there by themselves and were ignored. One poor lady writhed in pain on the floor and they walked around her.

[daleo]

9. Their concern is noted

For what it is worth, I see medical helicopters fly by my Canadian office window quite frequently, on their way to the publicly supported university hospital nearby.

By the way, in Canada, only the looniest of the loony right wing dares to breathe any hint of opposition to health care. Conservative parties know it is electoral suicide to oppose public health care.