[bowens2]

Does Canada have a shortage of doctors?

Does Canada have a shortage of hospitals?

[RUEZ]

Doctors? Yes.
Hospitals? It may.

[Toro]

Yes.

It took my father nearly a year to see a neurologist.

[Brenda]

Canada is huge, depends on where you live.

[Blue_Nose]

How many more threads

do you need on the same damned subject?

[BartSimpson]

Sure Canada has a doctor shortage. Canadian doctors can make a heck of a lot more money in the USA and pay a lot less taxes on those earnings. It makes the USA very attractive for them.

[DerbyX]

BartSimpson wrote:

Sure Canada has a doctor shortage. Canadian doctors can make a heck of a lot more money in the USA and pay a lot less taxes on those earnings. It makes the USA very attractive for them.

True. However high malpractice insurance eats into that as its a fraction of the cost up here. Its particularily hard on alot of pediatricians and obstraticians because any little thing happens (like feeling pain) during birth and the patient says they are traumatized and they sue. This came up last year when we discused the issue on the forum.

When I was training at a hospital I had the good fortune to sit with the pathologists (all doctors with at least 15 years experience) during a dinner function and they explained to me why (Ontario at least) has a "shortage". They also remarked at how alot of Canadian doctors were coming back because of the very malpractice issue. What people don't see is that for many doctors the pressure to settle is enormous to avoid astronomical settlements but for a doctor "settle" means admitting fault. It goes on their record and follows them around wherever they go. Often they are given the choice of settling as recommended by the insurance company or fighting it on their own dime since they are technically going against the insurance advice.

Good doctors have had their careers destroyed because greedy people wanted a big payoff because their stiches hurt a little.

[BartSimpson]

Can't argue that. I also adamantly support tort reform which most politicians (who are mostly lawyers) oppose.

[DerbyX]

BartSimpson wrote:

Can't argue that. I also adamantly support tort reform which most politicians (who are mostly lawyers) oppose.

I hate it when people try to get a free meal because of some minor thing. The fact that greedy people look at a fat insurance settlement as their ticket to easy street just makes me think that we should be allowed to identify them and refuse to treat them on both an emergency and non-emergency basis.

[C.M. Burns]

bowens2 wrote:

Does Canada have a shortage of doctors?

C.M. Burns wrote:

DOCTORS: “During the years 1990 to 2004, in terms of the number of physicians per 100,000 people, Canada stood far down the list of all countries, in an appalling 54th place. With only 214 doctors per 100,000 during those years, we were down among some or the poorest and least developed countries in the world, and far below most other countries in the OECD (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development).” Cuba had 591 doctors per 100,000 citizens, the United States 549.

See this forum topic: "Liberals and Conservatives have failed Canada"
post1339353#p1339353

[scarecrowe]

No no no...we have a shortage of artists. Artists, especially the actors, can be be whatever we need them to be. A white smock will make many = to doctors.

[bowens2]

Thanks Scarecrowe. I was hoping you would say "nope - no problem here" cause it looks like we are moving to universal health care whether we like it or not.

[scarecrowe]

bowens2 wrote:

Thanks Scarecrowe. I was hoping you would say "nope - no problem here" cause it looks like we are moving to universal health care whether we like it or not.

I need a doctor. I poked a hole in my cheek with my tongue.

[Brenda]

bowens2 wrote:

Thanks Scarecrowe. I was hoping you would say "nope - no problem here" cause it looks like we are moving to universal health care whether we like it or not.

And you think the universal healthcare system is the cause of that?

[scarecrowe]

Brenda wrote:

And you think the universal healthcare system is the cause of that?

A fellow I went to university with I recently saw on TV advertising knee replacement surgery for Canadians living near in Michigan. He mentioned in the commercial that he was Canadian trained and was targeting Canadian clients who were in a massive knee replacement traffic jam in Canada. Universal health care drove him to the US for the money and lots of it. One would have to be out of their mind not to take the opportunity to earn a fortune for we all usually only get one kick at that can.

Another acquaintance, who recently graduated from medical school and is practising in Ontario said that he is paid $68 to make the rounds at a local old age residence. He said that a TV repair tech will not even show up a the front door for less than $90 let alone the cost of repair.

So yes, the doctor shortage is related to the socialization of the health care system.