On April 2, "Freely" replied to Howie:

(ka-snip)

But many do.

Here is a citation to a decision of the Supreme Court of Canada decision
in Chaoulli v. Quebec (Attorney General), 2005 SCC 35, [2005] 1S.C.R.791.

In that decision, the Court held that the socialised medicine scheme
under consideration did little more than generate long waiting lines for
medical service. Seems that the plaintiff had been *forbidden* to seek
medical care outside the bounds of the government-managed system.

Also: I'll remind folks of Hugh Kernley, who I miss with all my heart.
He was *first* dxd with extensive metastases. He rarely saw the same NHS
(National Health Service) oncologist twice, the medics having each time
to try to brief themselves on his case -- not always thoroughly. He was
in intense pain from his mets. For a long time, that wonder of
socialized medicine miscalled the National Health *Service* refused to
prescribe anything more than various forms of narcotics. Finally, with
encouragement from this side of the pond, he managed to get radiation
therapy for the mets. He told me that it worked wonders. But too late......

Certainly, we Yanks have problems with our medical care system (if such
it can be called) but by God we don't have to wait months to see a medic
and we have our choice of whom to see. Yes, that's sometimes modified by
the vagaries of insurance carriers, but we do nonetheless have choices
-- not forced by government clerks to comply.

And I know for a certainty that some of our brothers from the Frozen
North travel south to receive their PCa care.

Did I hear someone say that it's "free?" No it is not. That is a
falsehood. TANSTAAFL

There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch.

Snicker if you will, but it is a home truth.

Regards,

Steve J
Tired from ranting.

It does not violate HIPPA (though HIPPA is a stupid law).  There are some
doctors' offices that use HIPPA to justify poor customer service.  Others
use it to require another $174 doctor's visit.