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The heatwave deaths don't really implicate the health care system as much as the emergency response system. The health care system is tasked with taking care of the patients it receives.
Would you blame the 'US health care system' for the 2,000 deaths during Hurricane Katrina? It makes as much sense to blame the 'French health care system' for deaths during the 2003 heat wave.
The system may be termed "socialist" but like most European countries with universal healthcare the government is right wing ( in France for 12 years) ...
So even right-wing politicians in Europe believe in Universal healthcare and nobody would dare and touch it or do away with it.
There would be a revolution on the streets.
I think Europeans just feel health should not be a luxury but is a basic human right and IMO they are absolutely right.
In the US Bill of Rights it says loud and clear that we have the "right" to health, not the privilege for those who happen to have insurance. And our system sucks even when you have insurance. Referrals, pre-existing conditions, etc...its definitely not benefiting patients!
In the US Bill of Rights it says loud and clear that we have the "right" to health, not the privilege for those who happen to have insurance. And our system sucks even when you have insurance. Referrals, pre-existing conditions, etc...its definitely not benefiting patients!
Whoa, what now?
*runs to check copy of Constitution*
Can you tell me where it says we have a "right to health"?
Ah, I see. Somewhere between 600 and 700 people died from heat-related causes in the Chicago heatwave of July 1995. Air conditioning is common in Chicago. Half of Chicago doctors are not scheduled for holiday in July. The heat wave in Chicago lasted five days. The heatwave in France lasted nine days. The population of France is about 22.5 times that of Chicago. Had the Chicago heatwave gone on as long as the French heatwave did and affected as large a population, more that 25,000 people would have died. What was that number for France again? Did I see 14,802 back there somewhere?
Thanks for posting this Saganista, you once again beat me to the post ! I spoke to a friend who used to be an oncologist in Chicago and told him of of Yeledaf's posts.
He wasn't impressed to say the least and his comparison to the Chicago heatwave was the same as yours. One city with a population 22 times less than an entire nation ( the heatwave only lasting 5 days not nine as in France), with air conditioning as standard and used to extreme weather conditions ( unlike France and the rest of Europe). And let's not forget the fabulous US healthcare system which does after all according to some look after many, many more people so well...
All in all it compares pretty badly.
And as mentioned earlier France really never had to deal with this before. Even England was sweltering at 38 degrees at one point !
Those poor people who died were all sadly elderly and they were extremely frail to begin with so unfortunately an appalling fluke of a natural disaster and a slow response to the problem caused their deaths.
A tragedy but hardly worth the bashing of some considering the extreme circumstances.
It means we need free market solutions to bring down the prices within our own country.
Government healthcare is not the answer. Government anything is rarely the answer.
We have "free market solutions" now. They are sucking the insured public dry without providing adequate services. How about insurance companies posting billions of dollars in profits each year? That's certainly the answer.
Excuse me, but do you drive down paved streets? The government provided those. Did you get an education? Do you have sewage services? How about trash pick-up? All of these are government services.
I pay less to fly to Thailand for all of my medical needs each year than I do in worthless insurance premiums. I get a great holiday at the same time.
Statistics, please of any public health disaster which remotely aproaches France's summer of 2003?
As I pointed out previously, our "appalling" health care system treats a much larger and more disparate population than that of France, including immense numbers of illegal immigrants from Mexico.
Strange because France will treat 100 % of its people ( and yes even illegal immigrants) and ANYBODY from the European community who needs it at no cost . How does that compare to the US again ?
Homeless, poor, pre-existing condition, rich, the system does not see any difference. If you are homeless and need costly top of the range long-term cancer treatment you will get it for free. Same if you are on low income or as rich as Rockefeller. The size of your pocket or your medical history makes no difference whatsoever.
Keep your wonderful system, but once in a while I suggest looking around, open your ears, eyes and your heart might be a good start too.
What is the percentage of people who can walk in in any clinic with no access to insurance or a large well padded wallet in the US ? 100 % ? I think not .
Your Nation treats more people because it :
A) Has a population of 300 Million not 60
B) is a compassionate and caring Nation which gives a toss about the most vulnerable in society
The American healthcare system is so wonderful that it is one the most important topic for the elections ( and has been for many years) and one which politicians find very hard to ignore because a majority of Americans ( your people) , even the ones who have the immense privilege of health insurance think the system is broken.
Now that's a fairly serious indictment on the fabulous system.
I read articles on a regular basis in American Newspapers, and listen to American Politicians discussing it as a major and crucial issue and yet some people are pompous and arrogant enough to dismiss it all. It seems impossible to discuss any public policies in the US and not have a long and painful one about the state of the healthcare system.
It's amazing how some are still blind and deaf to their own people . Not exactly shocking as the lack respect for people's opinions is hardly a new phenomenon from some quarters but still the mind boggles.
I suggest you open your eyes to what your compatriots think about this wonderful healthcare system of yours.
Not what some commie/socialist/bleeding heart liberal/hippie/pinko such as myself as I realise to you I am about lower on the rung of thing as a bug but your own people. The ones who matter.
We have "free market solutions" now. They are sucking the insured public dry without providing adequate services. How about insurance companies posting billions of dollars in profits each year? That's certainly the answer.
And the free market has allowed us to develop an incredibly advanced and effective health care system. The problem is that overregulation had contributed to raise the costs far higher than a true free market would have been able to bear.
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Excuse me, but do you drive down paved streets? The government provided those. Did you get an education? Do you have sewage services? How about trash pick-up? All of these are government services.
Local government should provide most services, such as paved roads and sewage/trash utilities. And if any government is involved in education, it again should be local government.
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I pay less to fly to Thailand for all of my medical needs each year than I do in worthless insurance premiums. I get a great holiday at the same time.
That is an example of the free market at work. You found a comparable service at a better price, so you took advantage of it. We need more of that here in the States.
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