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How Canada’s Health Care System Helped Create a Killer

thewalrus.ca

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Re: How Canada’s Health Care System Helped Create a Killer

#11

Post by pasbesoin »

52-6F-62 wrote: post #8

The Walrus is normally a magazine with high standards, and very good quality content, but I find the headline a little misleading or at least sensational. Canada's healthcare system is beloved, and has surely saved a far greater number of lives than it has put at risk. That said, most would prefer it be expanded and improved upon its current state. Canada's healthcare system has long needed improvements in mental hea…

In the U.S., the Affordable Care Act (ACA -- "Obamacare") substantially enhanced Medicaid with the goal of providing treatment for these things.

I personally witnessed it help to turn around the life of a "binge" addict of 20+ years. If her recovery lasts, it may prevent the "cycle of addiction" from being passed on to her two kids.

Despite such successes, and the enormous need, the U.S. is at this moment on the course to reverse this improved treatment.

I guess there's more money to be had in prisons. (We continue to transfer and expand our incarcerations into private, for-profit prisons.)

As for Canada, I hope treatment is expanded. Pharmaceutical coverage. At least basic, health-based dental coverage (as opposed to cosmetic -- though for myself I've no objection to covering it, as well) . Both should be cost effective. A reliable supply of medicines means people don't unnecessarily worsen while going without. And every year, more studies demonstrate that dental health is a primary preventative measure against other, very expensive diseases, such as coronary artery disease.

As with Medicaid in the U.S., it's not just "additional expense". It's a lower-cost preventative measure against greater costs down the line. Cost that in both countries gets passed onto the public. It's just that here, in the U.S., we have hospitals perform "cost spreading" of uncovered emergency care across the populations that have insurance.

(There's been very little coverage of the dramatic decrease in hospitals' uncovered care/expenses since the ACA went into effect.)

Re: How Canada’s Health Care System Helped Create a Killer

#14

Post by 52-6F-62 »

pasbesoin wrote: post #11
52-6F-62 wrote: post #8

The Walrus is normally a magazine with high standards, and very good quality content, but I find the headline a little misleading or at least sensational. Canada's healthcare system is beloved, and has surely saved a far greater number of lives than it has put at risk. That said, most would prefer it be expanded and improved upon its current state. Canada's healthcare system has long needed improvements in mental hea…

In the U.S., the Affordable Care Act (ACA -- "Obamacare") substantially enhanced Medicaid with the goal of providing treatment for these things. I personally witnessed it help to turn around the life of a "binge" addict of 20+ years. If her recovery lasts, it may prevent the "cycle of addiction" from being passed on to her two kids. Despite such successes, and the enormous need, the U.S. is at this moment on the cour…

I wholeheartedly agree. I think most people engaged in the subject would agree here [in Canada].

It's not completely destitute for mental health help. Ontario is improving coverage of pharmaceuticals for people under 25 and mental health is a growing concern.

Dental care is a sore spot for myself. I really hope we can improve upon that as it can cause life threatening health problems. Beyond that having dental problems that a person can't afford to remedy can relegate a person to a lower class, especially in business. It's a crucial aspect of physical well being, and should absolutely be considered! It's reassuring every time I hear the idea corroborated. While some dentists I've known are very empathetic and try to play to any insurance restrictions, others are quite the opposite and try to take advantage to their decided maximum and decry the idea of publicly subsidized dental health strictly because it might affect margins due to potential price changes in equipment. I look forward to attitudes on that subject changing.

I hope the moods and ideas surrounding the ACA and other, better, public health initiatives change in the US. It is an immense relief knowing that I'd never be turned away, can always see a doctor, can have blood work, urinalysis, x-rays, MRI's, ultrasounds, CAT scans, and emergency work done without a single worry about effects upon my life outside of the loss of quality due to any determined ailments. Every American I've ever met has never struck me as the kind to shun their neighbour by default—but for some reason when it has to be managed on the scale of a federal government program—some still develop issues with what they refer to as the burden of it.

I think we're on the right path here, in general, but I also think many Canadians underestimate the level of need outside of the cities, and in particular the northern and more isolated regions. There's definitely work to do.

I hope the current phase in the US changes, empathy becomes a larger influence in the spirit of the time and in policy decisions. It can do well for every aspect of society.

It's a long road forward—and no matter how much it improves, it can always improve further.

Re: How Canada’s Health Care System Helped Create a Killer

#15

Post by msie »

raisspen wrote: post #5
dafty4 wrote: post #4

Terrible article. Canadians live 2 years longer on average than Americans. And you're telling me the US mental health system would have been more pro-active? Come on. "Hers was Sault Ste. Marie’s sole homicide of 2013." How many small towns in the US can you say that of?

Classic case of whataboutism. I didn't see anything discussing the quality of the US mental health system. It's a Canadian website discussing a Canadian case. It failed here and the author of the article is trying to point out where it failed. This is an attempt to prod the system to improve.

But then again look at the title "How Canada's..." implying this was something peculiar to Canada in contrast to other health care systems. Any discussion of Canada's health care system is going to invite comparison to others isn't it?

Re: How Canada’s Health Care System Helped Create a Killer

#16

Post by msie »

52-6F-62 wrote: post #8

The Walrus is normally a magazine with high standards, and very good quality content, but I find the headline a little misleading or at least sensational. Canada's healthcare system is beloved, and has surely saved a far greater number of lives than it has put at risk. That said, most would prefer it be expanded and improved upon its current state. Canada's healthcare system has long needed improvements in mental hea…

Yup, I thought the article had something to say about Canada's universal healthcare but this is a story we hear far too often in many places where there is not enough resources for mental health problems.

Re: How Canada’s Health Care System Helped Create a Killer

#17

Post by katastic »

52-6F-62 wrote: post #8

The Walrus is normally a magazine with high standards, and very good quality content, but I find the headline a little misleading or at least sensational. Canada's healthcare system is beloved, and has surely saved a far greater number of lives than it has put at risk. That said, most would prefer it be expanded and improved upon its current state. Canada's healthcare system has long needed improvements in mental hea…

>beloved

What a strange word to apply to a medical system. I mean, really think about it. That's like saying the "DMV is beloved". It's just a strange word usage that makes me wonder if you're more of a "fan" of their system than an unbiased source.

My Canadian friend I regularly play PUBG with, remarked that non-life-threatening illnesses like a broken arm can have waiting times measured in months. (Sounds like our VA.) And he lives in one of the large cities. He is glad that nobody goes bankrupt but he would NEVER use the world "beloved" to describe it.

"Better than the USA"--probably, I'd easily give you that without raising my brow. But "beloved"?... I'm sorry, I just can't get past that word. It's so out-of-place. If this was a novel I was reading, I'd have to set the book down for a moment and go, "Really?"

Re: How Canada’s Health Care System Helped Create a Killer

#18

Post by flukus »

katastic wrote: post #17
52-6F-62 wrote: post #8

The Walrus is normally a magazine with high standards, and very good quality content, but I find the headline a little misleading or at least sensational. Canada's healthcare system is beloved, and has surely saved a far greater number of lives than it has put at risk. That said, most would prefer it be expanded and improved upon its current state. Canada's healthcare system has long needed improvements in mental hea…

>beloved What a strange word to apply to a medical system. I mean, really think about it. That's like saying the "DMV is beloved". It's just a strange word usage that makes me wonder if you're more of a "fan" of their system than an unbiased source. My Canadian friend I regularly play PUBG with, remarked that non-life-threatening illnesses like a broken arm can have waiting times measured in months. (Sounds like our…

I can't speak for Canada, but coming from a nation with a similar health care system I can pretty comfortably say that you or your friend are lieing. No one has a months long waiting time for a broken arm, the vast majority would be treated in hours at worst.

> Beloved... I'm sorry, I just can't get past that word. It's so out-of-place.

Many people around the world would describe their government institutions that way, healthcare is a common one but you'll also see things like the BBC or public transit systems held in similar regard.

Re: How Canada’s Health Care System Helped Create a Killer

#19

Post by kinkrtyavimoodh »

katastic wrote: post #17
52-6F-62 wrote: post #8

The Walrus is normally a magazine with high standards, and very good quality content, but I find the headline a little misleading or at least sensational. Canada's healthcare system is beloved, and has surely saved a far greater number of lives than it has put at risk. That said, most would prefer it be expanded and improved upon its current state. Canada's healthcare system has long needed improvements in mental hea…

>beloved What a strange word to apply to a medical system. I mean, really think about it. That's like saying the "DMV is beloved". It's just a strange word usage that makes me wonder if you're more of a "fan" of their system than an unbiased source. My Canadian friend I regularly play PUBG with, remarked that non-life-threatening illnesses like a broken arm can have waiting times measured in months. (Sounds like our…

That's a rather strange objection.

If any bureaucracy is run smoothly efficiently and effectively, I can totally imagine people calling it beloved simply because it makes such a huge positive impact in their lives.

I think this notion of not just lack of fondness for helpful government institutions but active dislike for them is more an American phenomenon and qualifies as 'strange'

Re: How Canada’s Health Care System Helped Create a Killer

#20

Post by emptybits »

katastic wrote: post #17
52-6F-62 wrote: post #8

The Walrus is normally a magazine with high standards, and very good quality content, but I find the headline a little misleading or at least sensational. Canada's healthcare system is beloved, and has surely saved a far greater number of lives than it has put at risk. That said, most would prefer it be expanded and improved upon its current state. Canada's healthcare system has long needed improvements in mental hea…

>beloved What a strange word to apply to a medical system. I mean, really think about it. That's like saying the "DMV is beloved". It's just a strange word usage that makes me wonder if you're more of a "fan" of their system than an unbiased source. My Canadian friend I regularly play PUBG with, remarked that non-life-threatening illnesses like a broken arm can have waiting times measured in months. (Sounds like our…

I think it's accurate to say our healthcare system is often loved and quite dear to our hearts as Canadians. (Canadian here.)

And, much like a beloved relative, our system has major annoyances and often keeps us waiting. (Can you still call Uncle Bob beloved after he shits the bed? I think you can.) But it's so core to the Canadian experience -- we all know, no matter what economic turns we might take, it's always there for us from birth to death, quirks and all. It's a constant and foundational.

I reckon by early adulthood many Canadians will have personally seen it help more loved ones than it harms (while asking for little or zero additional money) ... so I think the word beloved is reasonable.

I'd say our system is dear to my heart and that's synonymous with beloved.

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