tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11148260.post115492082046834659..comments2023-09-06T08:56:14.610-04:00Comments on Eidelblog: Has American health care really failed?Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11148260.post-1155402387282673482006-08-12T13:06:00.000-04:002006-08-12T13:06:00.000-04:00Ah. I said that I'll support socialized medicine o...Ah. I said that I'll support socialized medicine <I>once</I> 15,000 Americans die during a heat wave, referring to the French.Perry Eidelbushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09707615907666584863noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11148260.post-1155325748238106192006-08-11T15:49:00.000-04:002006-08-11T15:49:00.000-04:00You wrote: Fifteen thousand Americans, mostly elde...You wrote: <I>Fifteen thousand Americans, mostly elderly, die during a heat wave...</I> Didn't you mean French?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11148260.post-1155103857702466402006-08-09T02:10:00.000-04:002006-08-09T02:10:00.000-04:00While this is not at all empirical, I will make th...While this is not at all empirical, I will make the simple point that the American system of rationing through price is infinitely more humane than rationing through waiting time. <BR/><BR/>About 7 years ago, I had a very severe knee injury that almost robbed me of the ability to walk. Had I been forced to wait 122 days, heck even two or three weeks, to see a specialist about this injury, I would surely be in a wheelchair at this point. The ER doctor realized that, while the injury was not life threatening, a specialist should have contacted immediately. The specialist was, and the knee reconstruction took place less than a week later. <BR/><BR/>It's this kind of response that only a market-based system can provide, and considering how much pain I was in in that week, I find it truly horrendous that anyone can think that a waiting list is an appropriate way to allocate medical care. I would not have wished what I was feeling on anyone.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11148260.post-1155044130733828222006-08-08T09:35:00.000-04:002006-08-08T09:35:00.000-04:00Not to mention the recent news story from England,...Not to mention the recent news story from England, about the hospitak that was severely fined by the NHS because it was treating patients too fast!<BR/>Seems the goal is 122 waiting days to see a specialist (consultant?) and this hospital was letting patients see one almost immediately.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com