Universal healthcare made the top of a list of things identified as a very important source of personal or collective Canadian Pride.

The Association for Canadian Studies conducted a survey from June 28 to July 1, 2019.

The survey shows that 73% of Canadians found personal or collective pride in universal healthcare, 70% in the Canadian passport, 67% in the Canadian Flag, and 65% found pride in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

The National Anthem and the Armed Forces also won more than 50% support.

Presentism

Things that impact the present and affect people personally ranked higher than concepts or historical events.

The 1867 Confederation Agreements won only 37% support and the Monarchy 15%. But without the British North America Act, Canada and universal healthcare would not exist. Something different than Canada would exist instead.

Low support for history runs though every social issue. Dreams about something different divide voters into two camps.

Some see history as an embarrassment. History limits our present greatness. We’d be better off forgetting it.

While others value the past because they appreciate the present. They do not see the past as perfect, but they love the past because it brought us the present.

Misplaced Pride?

Only 4% of Canadians need an acute care hospital bed in any given year. Most people never experience healthcare beyond twisted ankles and prescription refills. Continue reading “Misplaced Pride? — 73% of Canadians Proud of Universal Healthcare”

Everyone wants to form an Ontario Health Team. But few know how to get community doctors’ support.  They do not know because they cannot see.

Imagine that we nationalized auto repair in Ontario.

All mechanics’ shops, including dealership service departments, now send repair bills to one insurance plan called Autocare.

Mechanics in local garages fix cars for loyal customers. Dealerships deal with major problems that community mechanics do not fix.

Local shops have 1500 customers. Some see only 750; others up to 3000. A single community could have 250 community mechanics.

Some mechanics share expenses with partners, but each mechanic must maintain liability insurance. Most community mechanics are independent contractors. Only dealerships hire mechanics on salary.

Mechanics’ shops rely on supporting businesses for towing; tire disposal, oil and waste disposal. But each supporting business negotiates with Autocare individually.

Government would love to control how, when, and where mechanics work. But it would cost too much to put mechanics on salary. Continue reading “Ontario Health Teams Need Physician Leadership”

It does not matter what doctors are forced to do. It matters that doctors are forced.

This week, the courts upheld the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario’s policy of forcing doctors to refer for Medical Aid in Dying (MAiD/euthanasia).

What will it be next week?

Forcing doctors to refer goes against everything that underpins medicine, science, medical ethics, and Western political philosophy.

It will take a number of blogs to sort it out. I can only introduce the nonsense in this post.

Forced to Refer

The court ruled that patients’ rights of access to healthcare trumped doctors’ rights to freedom of religion and conscience, when it comes to Medical Aid in Dying (MAiD/euthanasia) and “other contentious issues.”

Social media offered its own verdict: Doctors must do what patients want, full stop. Doctors are technicians who practice according to guidelines and accepted standards of care.

Mainstream media and activist groups cheered. The issue is settled. Religious doctors must keep religion out of the clinic. They must shut up, refer, or quit medicine.

Forced to Refer Nonsense

Like all mobs, social justice mobs thrive on nonsense. They lather up with moral sanctimony and screech definitive solutions to complex issues based on straw men and ignorance.

Religious Nonsense

Most nurses are no longer nuns, and doctors are not priests or pastors. Most doctors and nurses — even religious ones — never bring religion into clinical care. Continue reading “Doctors Forced to Refer for MAiD/Euthanasia”