A New Heart, Tangled in Red Tape

Yep, the US has the best medical care in the world...

You read this and then people point fingers at the Canadian system. This would not have happened here in Canada. Very sad story, my heart goes out to the family.

Some people spread false rumors about government death panels. This sounds like our current medical system declares people unworthy(as result of not having money) to live all the time.

I don't see how this shows how this demonstrates "the best...that the American healthcare system has to offer."
What it demonstrates to me is how the current healthcare system fails people. And this isn't the first time, though people kept telling me I was totally wrong when I mentioned to children who died because their families could not raise enough money for life-saving procedures.

What this article shows, though is the best of the American people who try so hard to step up and help where they can. Unfortunately, it shouldn't have to come to that.

I agree with Katnip...where is the "best" that the US health system offers? Life-saving transplants....that are only for people who are insured, that you have to start a social movement and public fundraising effort to receive?

The "death panel" thing gets to me too. There were several "death panels" in this case deciding that that man was not going to live. In addition to rumors about what the bill proposes, there's a lot of misinformation out there about what exactly the un- and underinsured are able to receive treatment-wise.

On our 16 bed PICU we've cared for 7 heart transplant patients and 5 liver transplant patients in 2009. We've implanted 4 Berlin hearts and had 11 ECMO runs. The only question we ask is, "Will this patient benefit from this treatment?" I wouldn't trade our system, warts and all, for any other.

Not true. Did you see the Canadian flag next to my name? We provide the care the patient needs and the province pays for it. Period.

I think Agrippa (and me also) thought you were talking about the American system. I totally missed the Canadian flag too