Posted on 10/04/2007 5:30:31 AM PDT by scooter2
SEATTLE -- A problem in Canada's hospitals is sending scores of pregnant women south of the border to have their babies.
Carri Ash of Chilliwack, B.C. was sent to the U.S. to have her baby after her water broke on Sunday, ten weeks ahead of schedule.
"And they came in and said 'you're going to Seattle,'" she said.
Ash's hospital couldn't handle the high-risk pregnancy. Doctors searched for another hospital bed, but even hospitals in Vancouver, B.C. didn't have a neo-natal bed.
"So two provinces didn't have enough room, so I have to go to another country," said Ash.
Ash was sent to Swedish Medical Center where, nurses told KOMO 4 News, five Canadian women have come to have their babies in the past six weeks. Some were even airlifted at up to $5,000 per flight.
And a woman from Calgary, B.C., one of the wealthiest cities in Canada, had to travel to Montana to give birth to her identical quadruplets.
"We always regret when we have to transfer a baby or mother to another jurisdiction for care," said Canada's Health Minister George Abbott.
Aidan Nassey was born premature in Canada and developed breathing problems before his mother could even hold him.
"It was terrifying. And he was taken away and that was it," said Courtney Nassey, his mother.
There wasn't a hospital in western Canada that could take in Aidan, and a helicopter had to rush them to Seattle.
Vicki Irvine crossed the border to see her daughter, Carri Ash, give birth.
"You can't even have a baby near home. It's horrible," she said.
Irvine and Ash are questioning Canada's priorities when it comes to health care spending.
"I think it's ridiculous that we can have the Olympics but not enough beds so I can have a baby," said Ash.
The family says there is one benefit to their neo-natal nightmare -- the newborn will have dual citizenship and, so far, they like what they see on this side of the border.
The US does not recognize dual citizenships (at least for naturalized citizens) even though many people try to claim them.
Peter Jennings tried to still claim his Canadian citizen after he was sworn in as an America. I think he finally went through the paperwork, after 20 years in America as a news anchor, just so he could vote against Bush.
The child is a natural born American citizen under American law by virtue of birth inside the borders of the United States.
The child is a natural born Canadian citizen under Canadian law by virtue of birth to two parents who Canadian citizens.
By treaty between Canada and the United Kingdom the child is also eligible for UK citizenship under certain circumstances.
Ping, ay.
ping
Great ... now we get Canadian anchor babies too
The family says there is one benefit to their neo-natal nightmare — the newborn will have dual citizenship and, so far, they like what they see on this side of the border.
&&&&
Ya gotta love it! Citizens!
The loss of medical care capability is exactly what happens when it becomes “free.”
We cannot allow this to happen here! Canadians would then have nowhere to go!............
######
Bingo!!! The safety valve of American hospitals and doctors and nurses, etc is the only reason that Canadian politicians have been able to continue their “single payer” system.
The government rationing happens at the rate doctors and nurses are paid. So there is a continual turnstile of qualified medical care practioners leaving Canada, and new immigrants to Canada taking up the empty posts. It becomes a cycle of decreasing dimensions.
Without checking, I bet there are empty NICU beds in BC and Alberta, but not enough available staff to man them. Also, the total number of NICU beds per population is much smaller than any major American metropolitan area, even if they are fully staffed.
They will be dual citizens. I'm originally from Canada and a lot of people are in that situation. The only difference is that the Canadian standard of living, industrial development and education is roughly on par with that in the U.S. so you don't have millions of Canadians jumping the border to work illegally in the U.S.
Please pick up the white courtesy phone for a message.
No, that's been happening for quite a while now.
Many people up here can't even get a GP.
Oh the horror, now their baby is a US citizen! They might grow up wanting to buy a gun, drive an SUV, they might even vote Republican some day! [/sarc]
Where will Americans go for treatment, when we get a Canadian-style “free” healthcare system?
Its popular! Mexican women do it too!
Did you hear that Lowell Green is going to Ogdensberg for a MRI some time this weekend?
He was told he would have to wait 3 - 4 months here.
Sounds like the ideal question for every journo and citizen town-hall-er who sees Mrs Clinton for the next 12 months.
You'll know it worked when they can order a Budweiser without shame.
Ohhh ohh Mexico! smooch smooch on the `lil mexicans butt, right George? I have a somewhat different idea on what to do when presented with a mexican butt.
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.