Summer 2010 Jo Lee - JO LEE Magazine

I’VE ALWAYS BEEN NUTS
JO LEE Magazine – CELEBRATING 10 YEARS OF LUXURY – DECEMBER 2010
Health Care
By John Paul Jarvis
Toronto – Canada
I watched Michael Moore’s 2007
documentary ‘Sicko’ that berates the
US health system for leaving 47.5
million Americans uninsured. The
film critically compares methods of
health care delivery around the world
to the US model.
In Sicko, our Canadian system
was directly maligned by former
President G.H.W. Bush in a video
sound clip. After re-evaluating his
1988 “read my lips, no more taxes”
deceit, I recognized his comments as
blatant deflections of accountability.
He had the opportunity to advance
the dysfunctional US system, while
Canada with its imperfections
accepted, is envied worldwide.
During taping, Moore crosses the
border to Windsor, Ontario, Canada
accompanying a US citizen who
desperately attempts to utilize Health
Canada for her child. Through this
illicit hardship, Michael encounters
and interviews a number of
Canadians in walk-in clinics and
hospital Emergency rooms, clearly
establishing that things are just fine
here.
In Canada’s system there are
sometimes delays, characteristically
involving elective surgery as the life
threatening situations are handled
rapidly. We attach more significance
to heart attacks than face lifts.
Moore displays constant amazement
that all medical costs in Canada are
covered, nosebleeds to pneumonia.
Last summer I was in an ATV (allterrain
vehicle) accident high in the
mountains in British Columbia,
3000 kilometers from home. I have
ridden dirt bikes for decades and own
ATVs and motorcycles, but all that
know-how was negated instantly by
hubris.
In Canadian hospitals the critical
cases are first. I qualified. With
undetermined internal injuries, I was
moved to the ®Front-Of-The-Line
courtesy Health Canada and didn’t
require my American Express card.
Being barely ambulatory in the lobby
of Kelowna General, a tracheotomy
was performed immediately. I
subsequently spent 4 weeks in the
Intensive Care Unit.
My trauma was such that I was
suspended in an induced coma
for the first 2 weeks to immobilize
compound fractures and to stay
further injury … then the processes
of weaning from feeding tubes and
respirators and discovering how
to breathe, eat and walk without
technology.
I had 5 different specialists in the
ICU and an independent local MD
to ensure that my best interests were
served.
There was 24-hour dedicated nursing
to monitor, inject, measure, scold,
encourage and administer to all
needs. Superior care only exceeded
by my wife’s dedication.
My induced coma produced twisted
nightmares that J. K. Rowling could
easily use for ‘Son of Harry Potter’.
If you are ever around comatose
patients in a hospital, appreciate that
in many instances they can hear and
see while awake. The nurses could
not have been more professional
or dedicated but gratefully, always
funny.
Canadians benefit significantly from
our health care system ranking 6th
in the world for population longevity
and enjoying 10th place world
standing. Take it from someone now
experienced, we in Canada are well
served.
JL
Jo Lee Summer 2010 97