Canadian MP Heads for US for Cancer Treatment - U.S. Politics Online: A Political Discussion Forum

SamInTheSouth · #1 (**permalink**) 09-19-2007

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Instead, MacEachern said the decision was made because the U.S. hospital was the best place to have it done due to the type of surgery required.

Stronach was diagnosed last spring with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). The cancer is one of the more treatable forms but Stronach still required a mastectomy -- which was done in Toronto -- and breast reconstruction.

Stronach, who announced last April she would be leaving politics before the next election, paid for the surgery in the U.S., reports the Star.

"As we said back in June when we confirmed the surgery, this is a personal and private matter between Belinda, her family and her physicians. I think you'll understand that because of respect for Belinda's privacy, we refrained from offering specific details around her medical treatment," said MacEachern.

While it is rare for MPs to seek treatment outside Canada, MacEachern said Stronach was not lacking confidence in the system.

"In fact, Belinda thinks very highly of the Canadian health-care system, and uses it when needed for herself and her children, as do all Canadians. As well, her family has clearly demonstrated that support," MacEachern told the Star.

MacEachern did not offer any other details regarding what type of surgery Stronach had or what she paid for it.

CTV

If the Socialist single payer system in Canada is so wonderful, why is a left wing politician from Canada who has consistently supported that system coming to the U.S. to get treated?

For those of you who still can't get passed the notion that universal health care sucks, go to the article and read all of the comments being left by the people already living with it. This one is my favorite and describes the system perfectly:

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"Sure she should get her treatment where she can if she is able to pay for it.

The story here isn't about those who get treatment in the states. It's about a liberal politician that is part of a political party that espoused the Canadian public system and vowed to ensure that no private health care was ever going to usurp the current system. She is an MP for the party that relentlessly attacked the conservatives for their "hidden agenda" to privatize health care.

The irony and hypocricy is the story here. The rich get health care, the rest of use wait in line. All because of liberal fearmongering that does not allow for a real debate on the state of the health care system in Canada."

This guy nailed it. That is exactly what the left will do to Americans. The wealthy will be able to pay for whatever treatment they need and go around the system while the 90% of the rest of us will get stuck with inferior care waiting in lines to be treated.

Steve · #2 (**permalink**) 09-19-2007

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the decision was made because the U.S. hospital was the best place to have it done due to the type of surgery required

The "best" place to have it done has to be somewhere, and it just so happens to be in the United States. If it were in Peru or Taiwan, I'm sure she'd be headed to Peru or Taiwan. If it were in Canada, I'm sure she'd be staying put.

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The wealthy will be able to pay for whatever treatment they need and go around the system while the 90% of the rest of us will get stuck with inferior care waiting in lines to be treated.

Someone who has money should be able to pay for the absolute best care available, regardless of where it is. Not allowing that would be far more socialist.

I'm pretty much against universal health coverage, but using this as some argument against it is stupid...

White Rabbit · #3 (**permalink**) 09-21-2007

Belinda Stronach is hardly 'leftwing' - indeed, she seems to switch political parties depending upon who she's sleeping with.

She's also the daughter of one of Canada's most successful and wealthiest industrialists (Frank Stronach, founder of Magna International), so it is no surprise that Ms. Stronach had the financial option to pay for her own surgery).

Steve · #4 (**permalink**) 09-21-2007

A friend who lives in Ottawa says that our conservatives would be considered liberals in Canada. Makes one wonder what they would think of our liberals...

Otter · #5 (**permalink**) 09-21-2007

Well, the US is a really good place to be if you can afford cutting edge medicine, and a really crappy place if you can't afford decent health insurance. I'm not convinced that the two are inextricably related, as the former will probaly not be true for very long if the current state of NIH fundig continues.

jviehe · #6 (**permalink**) 09-24-2007

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Originally Posted by Otter

Well, the US is a really good place to be if you can afford cutting edge medicine, and a really crappy place if you can't afford decent health insurance. I'm not convinced that the two are inextricably related, as the former will probaly not be true for very long if the current state of NIH fundig continues.

Where will Canadians go when Hillary gets her way? The real question is why was a US better than getting care in Canada? Faster, higher quality? If so, why do we want a socialized system? If anything we need less govt in health care. I liked this comment

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Most comments are spot-on - but one fact has been overlooked. Like Belinda, I too get my vital health care across the border. In doing so, we Canadians are contributing over a billion dollars (if not much more!) to the US economy that should have been spent here if we had choices denied us by the do-gooders. Not just for the medical treatments themselves, but the hotels, food tabs and other expenses needed to obtain our rightful and timely health care - denied us on this side of the border.

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