An unapologetic Danny Williams says he was aware his trip to the United States for heart surgery earlier this month would spark outcry, but he concluded his personal health trumped any public fallout over the controversial decision.
In an interview with The Canadian Press, Williams said he went to Miami to have a "minimally invasive" surgery for an ailment first detected nearly a year ago, based on the advice of his doctors.
"This was my heart, my choice and my health," Williams said late Monday from his condominium in Sarasota, Fla.
"I did not sign away my right to get the best possible health care for myself when I entered politics."
Ummm how is this news? Don't we have some of the best doctors here? Coming here for a doctor has little to do witht eh health care system and much more to do with finding the best doctor for the procedure.
YARDofSTUF wrote:Ummm how is this news? Don't we have some of the best doctors here? Coming here for a doctor has little to do witht eh health care system and much more to do with finding the best doctor for the procedure.
He wanted it done ASAP without the criticism of skipping those on the wait list. There's a reason the US has the best doctors in the world, it's because they don't have the government dictating what/when/how they can do their job. Universal gets forced through and the quality of doctors in the field will suffer.
"I wanted to get in, get out fast, get back to work in a short period of time," the premier said.
Williams said he didn't announce his departure south of the border because he didn't want to create "a media gong show," but added that criticism would've followed him had he chose to have surgery in Canada.
"I would've been criticized if I had stayed in Canada and had been perceived as jumping a line or a wait list. ... I accept that. That's public life," he said.
You mean as compared to the millions living below the border who have none.
He went to Florida to have special heart surgery that was offered no where else. Much less invasive than any other. He will be well enough to attend Newfoundland Day at the Olympics. That should say something for it.
Beside, look at the weather in Florida compared to anywhere in Canada. He also has the money to pay for it.
JBrazen wrote:There's a reason the US has the best doctors in the world, it's because they don't have the government dictating what/when/how they can do their job.
I doubt thats the reason we have the best. HMOs and exclusive deals through companies dictate to our doctors.
JawZ wrote:Maybe we need the best docs because we're so unhealthy as compared to the rest of the modern world.
Still, of the 15 countries on the list the U.S came out on top when measuring infant mortality rate. The country also has the second-highest healthy life expectancy. What's more, air pollution is relatively low, and the U.S. boasts one of the world's lowest TB rates.
We were 11 on the list. 10 other countries, some of them with socialized healthcare systems fared much better than the US.
Also, as the Forbes article so eloquently put it...
The U.S. spends over 15% of its gross domestic product on health care--with little to show for it. In 2006, almost 16% of the population lacked health insurance.
I am amazed at how some don't get fired up about bogus intel regarding a war and yet they act like you pissed in their cornflakes and made them eat it when it comes to Universal Health Care.
Roody wrote:I am amazed at how some don't get fired up about bogus intel regarding a war and yet they act like you pissed in their cornflakes and made them eat it when it comes to Universal Health Care.
If he has the money to spend to get better treatment down south, then by all means go down south. means the tax payers in Canada don't have to foot the bill.
I rather get good free health care then have the best care money can buy and have to pay for it the rest of my life. I see all these stories of people who have heart attacks and end up losing there house cause they lose there jobs and are no longer covered by there medical insurance down in the states.
Zilog B wrote:Loading the dishwasher at brembo's house means bringing the fiancee a sixpack home.
nightowl wrote:I see all these stories of people who have heart attacks and end up losing there house cause they lose there jobs and are no longer covered by there medical insurance down in the states.
An all to common problem here. Honestly, I am open for differing ideas, but the current system is beyond a joke. People shouldn't have to worry how they will pay the bills because they get sick.
JawZ wrote:We were 11 on the list. 10 other countries, some of them with socialized healthcare systems fared much better than the US.
Also, as the Forbes article so eloquently put it...
You left that part out of your post. Bad on you.
I left alot of things out of my post, didn't think I needed to cut and paste the whole article.
yep, almost 16% of the population lacked health insurance.
Despite the fact that an estimated 47 million Americans lack health insurance, the U.S . ranked 11.
That means that despite 47 million without health insurance
the U.S came out on top when measuring infant mortality rate. The country also has the second-highest healthy life expectancy. What's more, air pollution is relatively low, and the U.S. boasts one of the world's lowest TB rates.
does that sound so unhealthy? Not to me it doesn't.
Roody wrote:An all to common problem here. Honestly, I am open for differing ideas, but the current system is beyond a joke. People shouldn't have to worry how they will pay the bills because they get sick.
oh i see, so make the USA a socialist country and have me pay for people who can't learn to save money and take care of themselves, sure thing bud
cybotron r_9 wrote:I left alot of things out of my post, didn't think I needed to cut and paste the whole article.
yep, almost 16% of the population lacked health insurance.
That means that despite 47 million without health insurance
does that sound so unhealthy? Not to me it doesn't.
LOL...dead is dead dude. Health is measured by the living...and millions of folks live with chronic illness. My great grandma had CHF for nearly 20 years...and she died at the ripe old age of 98. Would you call that healthy?
If we really want to cut healthcare costs...stop making your sick ass in demand!!!!!!!!!!
Supply and demand right? Let's focus on how to prevent illness rather than treat it.
We treat the sick and injured...not dead babies or dead adults.
Mark wrote:oh i see, so make the USA a socialist country and have me pay for people who can't learn to save money and take care of themselves, sure thing bud
People need to learn how NOT to become sick...NOT save money. This is why we are so screwed up and polarized.
Mark wrote:oh i see, so make the USA a socialist country and have me pay for people who can't learn to save money and take care of themselves, sure thing bud
This response proves my point. You do realize that the world isn't always black and white correct? Who said anything about not saving? As hard as this may be to believe not everybody with financial issues is a bum. They can set money aside and it can still be an issue.
Instead of the constant screams of socialism why not have our leaders come up with a way to ensure people can get health insurance without going broke. Is wanting for all people to be able to afford health insurance really that bad a thing?
nightowl wrote:If he has the money to spend to get better treatment down south, then by all means go down south. means the tax payers in Canada don't have to foot the bill.
I rather get good free health care then have the best care money can buy and have to pay for it the rest of my life. I see all these stories of people who have heart attacks and end up losing there house cause they lose there jobs and are no longer covered by there medical insurance down in the states.
Where did you ever get the idea our health care is free. We are getting to where half our GDP is going toward health care.
All my working life I have paid health care premiums. Until this year we in Alberta have had to pay about $150 a month for basic health care. On top of that I usually had extra insurance to help pay for drugs, dental and other extras. Not free, but I know if I get sick I can go to any hospital and will not get turned away.
We do have a pretty good social system, by the fact that even if you have not paid insurance you will not get turned away.
Mark wrote:oh i see, so make the USA a socialist country and have me pay for people who can't learn to save money and take care of themselves, sure thing bud
Who pays for your local fire department? What about the police department? Garbage collection? Do you have those things where you live? What about the military? Who's paying their wage? I think your politicians are on a decent salary too, where's their money coming from? Where's the funding coming from for your infrastructure maintenance (roads, masts, public buildings, etc)? Man, I'd like to live in a country where I don't have to pay towards anything! Where do you live!? Fairytale land?
Mark wrote:oh i see, so make the USA a socialist country and have me pay for people who can't learn to save money and take care of themselves, sure thing bud
So how much do you have saved up in case you or someone in your family develops cancer, some other horrible and costly disease, or or is disabled?
They had a story about this on the news, and it seem there are a number of hospitals in Canada that can do this operation. I still think he just wanted to recuperate in a warmer climate.
There have even been suggestions the Danny will ask Newfoundland's health system to pay for the operation.
cybotron r_9 wrote:Everyone in our country has access to healthcare, via free clinics and emergency rooms. Even folks from other countries.
Is access really the crux of the debate? Should people go into debt in order to get treatment?
Again, I have to say that the entire healthcare debate is flawed. We should be focusing on how to prevent the NEED for healthcare. Promote a culture of healthy living. When the demand for healthcare goes down, so will the costs. Supply and demand. Right now demand outweighs supply. Driving down costs allows more people to have access without burdening the tax base. What is so damn absurd about that? The beautiful thing is...it's all up to us! We have the power to change.
I have friends who just came back from a two year job in Indonesia. Things are a little different there. The wife of their gardener went into the hospital to have a baby and ended up having a problem that caused her to stay an extra two days. In order for them to take the baby home they had to pay $500US. If they did not pay, the hospital would have keep the baby. When you only make $180US a month, $500 is a lot to come up with.
My friend ended up paying to get the kid out.
Last year my friend got an infection and had to be in the hospital for about a week. It was a good thing he has a wife because she was the only one to take care of him. For two days he was pretty much unconscious and when she came to see him in the mid-morning she found him still laying there in his excrement from the night before. If she had not cleaned him up no telling how long he would have laid there.
Probably compared to a lot of countries we have pretty good care even when it is bad.
