Botched Transplant

[cherub]

Just another point on the Canadian healthcare system....

We're in a severe MD shortage. Most general practitioners/family doctors aren't taking any more patients unless you're related to a current patient. And with the "revamping" of OHIP, you can't see a specialist until you see a G.P. (for the most part). So, you have to find a GP that will see you, then refer you.

If you have a specialist, but haven't been to see them in over a year, you have to go BACK to your GP to get a referal. This actually happened to me. I see a specialist once a year and have for the past 16 years. At university, I missed an appointment and passed the year mark. Even though I'd been seeing my doctor for so many years, I had to find a GP in the city who would refer me.

So, I think many Canadians get fed up with waiting and head south, to wherever the specialists are.

While there are definite issues with the system, I'm thankful that I don't have to worry about affording my basic care. I'm also thankful for my drug plans that cover a lot of my medication. There's been a lot of debate recently about creating a two tiered system, especially when news stories break about prominent sports figures bypassing MRI waiting lists. I"ve BEEN on those waiting lists and it ain't pretty. With so few machines, I understand about critical cases going first, but you can't tell me that checking to see if a certain basketball player's knee ligament is torn is more critical than my friend having his brain scanned to find out why he's been experiencing blackouts.

Anyway, just ramblings from a Canuck.

[saddened]

I'm a registered NY organ donor and was looking for information on registering for NJ (now that i reside here) when I got to this site. After reading some of the views I had to leave a message here.

My father moved here from India 5 years ago. Before you jump to conclusions! .... he was requested to come here because of his medical research success.

He's my "only family," so after graduating high school from a boarding school, I had nowhere to go but here. Was an international student because my dad has never thought about becoming a citizen here since he plans to move back shortly.

I did go through a personal crisis, couldn't finish my undergrad which is a must for international students, so now my visa is out of status making me an illegal immigrant.

We're contesting my status only so that I can stay with my father till 2008 when his program finishes and I could go back to India with him. I haven't gone back to school not wanting to be an "illegal student" and am waiting to go back to India so that I can finish my studies there. I honestly just needed a break for a year which I can't do being an international student.

I've never done anything wrong and am a stickler about doing things "within the rules now" so that I don't jeopradise my father's career. The only thing I do is take care of my dad, study on my own time, spend time with friends and volunteer off and on with habitat of america coz i looooooove powertools

I've been tested to be a bone marrow donor a few times, became a ny organ donor, not because of any altruistic reasons but only because I think this is something everyone should consider doing.

It saddens me that you feel that if I was in need of an organ transplant, I wouldn't deserve it. I've always felt like my father and i have been valuable or atleast nonthreatning factors of this society.

I don't know if my story would convince you one way or the other but not every immigrant comes here to deplete money collected from taxes or steal your jobs. Sometimes you don't have a choice where life takes you.

You feel like immigrants come here and leech everything you're worth; whereas at the same time, the monopoly of western companies dimishes the developing world's chances of fostering in certain areas. As this isn't always hte case and western influence at times do benefit the developing world, the developing world (specifically us immigrants) are not always a burden.

there are two sides for everything... wish people wouldn't look at things in absolute black and white. That's what causes animosity which can accelerate.

thank you for reading..

on a side note... bone marrow transplants have become very convenient for donors now. You only need to give saliva-swabs (instead of blood) and will only be called if you do match someone who requires a bonemarrow transplant. Only takes a day, isn't painful, the body replenishes bonemarrow that's extracted within days and you could save a life! The only thing you need to consider is that you're DNA will be on record. If that isn't much of a concern, do become a bone marrow donor.

take care,
Sanya

[Lady Pi Phi]

Originally Posted by adduncan

I could wait for someone from Canada or another country that "does it" to chime in here but it might take a little while.

What are you willing to pay for? Keeping a patient alive against all odds? Are you willing to set limits on who can receive what care? How about clinical trials or anything not proven to be beneficial for a disease? Would you pay for an organ transplant? Bone marrow? Chemotherapy and advanced diagnostic techniques like PET? What if someone's religious beliefs dictate that they can never ever ever shut off life support? Will you pay for the consequences of their beliefs?

Still in favor of those tax hikes?

These are not small questions. "Yeah, sure, I'm all for it!" sounds great on a chat board or in college, but IRL it's a lot more complicated than that, and the enthusiasm fades exponentially.

The reason I mentioned Canada is because of their subsidised health care. All too often we see wealthy patients from that country come to our center because even though they have the money to pay for what they need, they still can not get in to a facility to be cared for!!! Having the government pay for everything comes with a much higher price tag than you think. The experiment has cost lives in Canada and other countries--it has failed. God willing, you won't have to find that out for yourself in your own life.

Is it still a good idea to let the government "pay for it all" with tax money, and dictate to you what care you can and can not have?

Some pretty serious food for thought. Try working in this field for a while..........

Adrienne (PNAM-2003)

Alright, here I am. I hope you didn't wait too long.

I'll be the first to admit that our Health Care systems has some things that are left to be desired. I'll be the first to admit that many wealthy Canadians travel to the United States to receive care because wait times are far too long here. I'll even be the first to admit that it has negatively impacted the health and lives of some Canadian, but I'll be damned if I'm going to give it up!!!!!

I rely greatly on our health care system. As a type 1 diabetic, I do not qualify for things life health insurance and life insurance. Fortunately, I do get benefits with work, but they are extremely limited and do not pay for major medical expenses.

As a frequent patient in our health care system I have never been told I cannot receive treatment because they do not want to pay for it.

You will be hard pressed to find a Canadian who will give up our health care system in order to pay less in taxes.

So, while it may not be perfect, I and most other Canadians wouldn't give it up for anything.


Edited to add: I didn't realize this was an old thread, but I stand by what I said