Canadian Healthcare Horror stories?What are yours?

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Imaka

I have had reason to have a lot of contact with the Canadian health care system in the last few years. My husband was diagnosed with cancer in September 2005. He recieved excellent care. He did not have to wait for any treatments, for chemotherapy, for MRI's, for bone scans, for radiation, or any other care. He was hospitalized several times and was treated with great compassion. We visited emergency rooms many times and were always seen within minutes. He had numerous radiation treatments, chemotherapy treatments, bone scans, CT scans, MRI's, bone strengtheners all with no charge to us. When he needed palliative care all we had to do was call and an ambulance arrived at our door. There he had a private room where I could also stay, and the most compassionate and sensitive care. It may not be the best in the world, but Canadian health care is very good, and no one here has to declare bankruptcy because they are sick. I have no horror stories about Canadian health care. It is there when you really need it.

john n

The only problem I see with the Canadian healthcare system is that wait times are getting too long. Other than that I don't see much to complain about.
I am a dialysis patient and was recently able to travel to another province and still get my treatments without shelling out a fortune.
In response to ris c.... You don't have a clue. The American system leaves those with no money to die in the gutter. Even those with insurance have to fight with HMO's to get barely adequate medical care. In canada you may have to wait, but you WILL get care at a price that anybody can afford.

Tom S

None. It's a great system. Ask any Canadian.

Maybe your only problem is that you listen to too many American millionaire talk show hosts. They put down the Canadian system, without ever having gone to Canada to speak to a Canadian.

Here are some facts.

(1) No Canadian has ever been denied service because of a pre-existing condition.
(2) Every Canadian gets insurance.
(3) No Canadian has ever lost a home or gone bankrupt because of a health care bill.
(4) No Canadian has ever died because they did not get Canadian health care treatment.
(5) If a Canadian has to go to the states to get life saving medical treatment, the Canadian government pays for it. This is something that the talk show idiots like Hannity, or Limbaugh conveniently forget to mention.
(6) Canadian pharmaceutical drugs are just as good as American drugs, but at a fraction of the cost.
(7) The American health care system is the best money can buy. The Canadian health care system is just as good, and you don't need money.
(8) It's not a for-profit insurance company who makes your live/die decisions.

forever5

No horror stories here either! The last time I visited an ER (Thanksgiving weekend 2007), I was in, registered, saw a doctor, received a prescription and was walking out in less than 45 minutes.

thinkingtime

Sorry, can't oblige. Never had a real problem.

contessajfjg

I actually don't, once I went to the emrgency room in Toronto and I had to wait awhile however my situation wasn't that serious, so people who really needed help were helped 1st.
I actually have worse stories with the American healthcare system, aside from the costs.

Goose666

i realized i was in canada...

kidding. great country.

Helena

I have one that could have been a horror story. I went into premature labor and I woke up when a nurse was rattling my IV bag. I saw a smaller bag being attached and saw "illin" written. I asked her if it was penicillin and she said yes. I yanked the tube out. I am severely allergic to it and it could have killed the baby and I. It was on my chart and both the doctor and nurse missed it.

Atom 74

The only ones I have are from the time I got hit by a car, in Quebec. Being in total shock and having french doctors was a bit overwhelming. But I got over it.

Mexico4me

I think the wait times are the biggest horror story. I took my husband to the hospital in Calgary with Congestive Heart Failure. They found his blood oxygen levels were fine so we waited for 10 1/2 hrs. By the time they admitted him into the CCU, they estimated he had 3 heart attacks in the waiting room! I had told them I was sure it was his heart because he is diabetic, but they basically ignored me.
After the Cardiologist saw him, everything was excellent. He was in the hospital for a month and was treated excellent. As soon as he was stabilized, they put in 2 stents with no waiting time.
Other than the triage misdiagnosing him, everything was handled perfectly.

u r dumb

Have None ...I think you should read about the AMerican health care system which is practically not there and then you can talk about horrors.
Read the news more

WonderingWhy

Long wait times to get a specialist.

I went to my GP and needed a referral to a specialist. That was a year ago. I'm still waiting to hear back. I think she forgot about me. *sigh*.

menado

Canadian health care is run by politicians that know nothing about health care. The hospitals is monopolized by government and big unions, and the MDs get pay less than the nurses. That is why all the MD are going south after they got experienced. Now you know why Canadians have to wait very long to get surgery.

morris

Most Canadians don't realize that the majority of people in the US like the system we have. If we didn't, we would vote to change it. We can get instant care for any treatment we want. We are the customers. The hospitals have to compete for our buisness. The days of fighting with hmo is over. Pretty much any treatment you want or need is available right now, with your choice of hospitals. Competion encourages better service and the latest new and best treatments. The biggest problem is cost increases, The best care isn't free. No-one is denied care due to uninsurance or poverty. There are plenty of charites for that. It is illegal for a hospital to deny care to anyone. Also, many Canadians call it free health care, that's ridicules. It only means you don't even know what it's costing you, you are all paying for it. Just as we are all paying for ours. But we know the cost.

barbar

Unfortunately the Canadian health care system is no longer any good.

Your first answerer is living in a dream world.

ris c

I am a Canadian. Live in Europe, United states and Canada.

CANADA HAS THE WORST HEALTH CARE OF THE THREE.

Any Canadian who thinks otherwise has not lived and exerience good health care in other parts of the world, and has no friends using Canadian health care to lesten to the horrer stories.

Canada 8 - 12 weeks to get an Aorta Stint
USA 0 - 3 weeks
Swizerland 0 - 3 weeks

List goes on and on

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