Danny Williams’ Life Saving Leap Raises Questions About the Politics of Canadian Health Care
Many questions are being raised about Danny Williams’ choice to have heart surgery performed in the United States. If he were not the Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador his choice would amount to nothing more than another number added to the growing list of Canadians leaving the country for medical care. The truth is that this questioning has little to do with his personal health and more... [Read more]
Blowing the Whistle on Patient Safety: Why Patients Need to Speak Out
Patient safety is a hot topic in Canada and one that often leaves our politicians scrambling to maintain some semblance of action. They do so by creating more federal, provincial and territorial agencies and programs. Many of these government-funded initiatives are set-up as independent (arm’s length) non-profit organizations. Perhaps the biggest endeavour to date is the creation of the Canadian... [Read more]
An Empowered Patient
Are you curious about what happens to survivors of adverse events in the Canadian health care system? Some focus on the future trying to leave what happened to them in the past so that they can adjust to their new sense of normalcy and once again begin enjoying their life. Others become determined to drive changes in our health care system to help prevent adverse events from occurring in the first... [Read more]
The True Meaning of Private Health Care
Once upon a time the term private health care had a different meaning. It meant a patient was free to choose their own medical doctor. A doctor was free to set the price for providing their skills. It meant a private contract formed between a patient and their doctor for medical care, the price of which would be settled between them. It meant a patient and doctor were accountable to each other. Then,... [Read more]
Do You Hear What I Hear?
It’s the voice of patients everywhere. Each day there are stories in the news about the problems with our public health care system. Patients are finally voicing their concerns and people are realizing that although no health care system is perfect ours can be better. The popular notion that our health care is “free” seems to serve as some perverse justification for waiting lists,... [Read more]