Posted on 09/06/2007 4:22:29 PM PDT by FormerACLUmember
Two Ontario patients who had brain tumours removed in the United States because they say they couldn't get quick treatment here are suing the provincial government over what they claim are unjustly long wait times for medical care.
Lindsay McCreith, 66, of Newmarket and Shona Holmes, 43, of Waterdown filed a joint statement of claim yesterday against the province of Ontario. Both say their health suffered because they are denied the right to access care outside of Ontario's "government-run monopolistic" health-care system. They want to be able to buy private health insurance.
Ontario's "monopoly" over essential health services and its delay in providing the services have left both patients to "endure significant financial, emotional and physical hardship to access such services in the United States," states the claim .
The accusations made in the statement of claim have not been proven in court.
Holmes began losing her vision in March 2005, she told a press conference at Queen's Park yesterday. An MRI in May 2005 revealed a tumour in her brain. Her family doctor couldn't expedite appointments booked with specialists for July 19 and Sept. 19, 2005. As the tumour pressed on her optic nerves, her vision deteriorated. Afraid to wait any longer, she went to the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Ariz.
Within a week she met three specialists and was told she had a fluid-filled sac growing near her pituitary gland at the base of her brain. They urged her to have it taken out immediately. She went home with the hopes of quickly removing what is known as a Rathke's cleft cyst.
Unable to get surgery fast, she returned to Arizona and had the mass removed on Aug. 1, 2005. Her vision was restored in 10 days. The Holmes family is now in debt $95,000 because of medical costs.
"My husband has taken a second full-time job. We've re-mortgaged our home. It has to be known. People can't go through this," said Holmes, a family mediator. "I was very fortunate to save my eyesight but the cost and the battle has been devastating."
David Spencer, a spokesperson for Health Minister George Smitherman, said the minister can say little as this matter is before the courts.
"We understand there is a statement of claim being put forward. It's our intention to be there to vigorously defend the public health system."
The Canadian Constitution Foundation, a non-profit group, is backing the legal action by McCreith and Holmes.
The CCF has dubbed the lawsuit the "Ontario Chaoulli." Dr. Jacques Chaoulli went to court in Quebec on behalf of his patient George Zeliotis, who suffered acute pain while waiting for a hip replacement. In June 2005, the Supreme Court of Canada handed down a decision in favour of Chaoulli by striking down Quebec's ban on private health insurance.
Many felt the decision would open the door to increased access to private health-care in Quebec, but that has yet to happen.
Holmes' experience was similar to that of Lindsay McCreith, a retired auto collision repair shop owner. According to the statement of claim, McCreith suddenly experienced seizures on Jan. 2, 2006. After waiting seven hours in a Newmarket emergency ward, he was examined by an internist. A computed tomography or CT scan showed a large wedge-shaped brain tumour. He was discharged from hospital four days later with a diagnosis of stroke and a prescription for anti-seizure medication.
Worried the tumour might be cancerous, McCreith and his family wanted an MRI. He was given an appointment date four months later. McCreith went to the U.S. and paid $494.67 (U.S.) for an MRI. Armed with the scan, he saw his Ontario family doctor, who referred McCreith to a neurologist. He was examined on Feb. 8, 2006. He was referred to a neurosurgeon but would have to wait three months.
Unhappy with this, he returned to Buffalo. In early March, during a biopsy, the tumour was found to be malignant and surgically removed. He paid $27,650 for his consultation, biopsy and surgery in Buffalo and OHIP has refused to reimburse him because he failed to seek pre-approval for the expense, the claim notes.
Where will these poor Canadians go if Hillary and the democrats carry out their carefully crafted plans to seize and destroy the US health delivery system? H*ll, where will WE go?
but.... ours is so bad! M. Moore Said so! < / SARC
I smell an opportunity for me to open a hospital in a nice Caribbean location...or perhaps in the Bahamas...it’s only 46 miles from la Florida at its closest...
Canadian quadruplets were born recently in tiny Great Falls, Montana, hundreds of miles from their home... because there is no adequate fully functioning premature baby care, even in a wealthy province like Alberta. Four babies at once was far more than Canada could cope with.
Best example of Hillarycare I can think of
Sather is an agenda driven drama queen. I hope she gets exactly what she is asking for.
Socialism...The low road to communism...
The extremely ill are supposed to die to save money.
You might do well!
......He paid $27,650 for his consultation, biopsy and surgery.....
Silly man. He could have entered illegally and got it done for free.
The hypocrisy of Hillary is that she would never for one microsecond subject herself or Chelsea personally to what she has planned for you and your loved ones.
They even have a name for it in Canada and the UK: "Euthanasia by queue"
Coming soon to a neighborhood near you!
Hillary is truly evil.
Maybe not. EMTALA requires ERs to stabilize only (for free).
Hillary will take care of this as soon as he’s elected.
Hillary is a power-mad, massive bribe-taking totalitarian who beieves that she can ride health care into office.
The Clinton Library has (illegally) sealed all records of Hillary’s 1993 Health Care Task Force.
Would be ironic, wouldn’t it?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.