DEMOS said: "btw, the best reorganization of medical service would be to key in the age of the patient: kids get whatever they need, oldies are progressively less eligible for expensive treatment. why put a 10,000$ hip in some one that's going to die soon?"

Charming.

London to a brick you would change your tune if it was you or your mother in the bed with the hip fracture - well said Aime.

As someone else said though, doctors make these allocation decisions every day. There are other reasons for not considering surgery for the elderly, ie, they are not good candidates and might not survive the anaesthetic etc. They are not based on $$ though, they are based on the best outcome for the patient, which is as it should be.

I am studying medicine and I hope there is some recogntion of the soundness of McAuley's arguments by the time I get out. The current Federal vs State funding hodge-podge helps no one. Sicko was indeed good viewing, Moore is a polemicist par excellence and there is no doubt he glossed over the flaws of the NHS, Canadian and Cuban health systems but I know where I would rather be poor and in need of health care. Australia definitely does not want to head down the US road to hard core "user pays and tough if you can't afford it."

If that means my income earning potential maxes out in the hundreds of thousands rather than the millions, then so be it.

Health is a Key Concern. Battle the election!

The party that can outline the meaning of civic wellbeing, who can connect the need for prevention to the practical side of health is the party we need for government.

Put the HUMAN FACE back into Health.

I agree with John Wellness; "There is s arguably enough money being applied to health care but it is poorly targeted and doesn't achieve what we want in keeping us healthy.

Most of all we need political and bureaucratic courage and leadership to move away from a system that is dominated by professional interests".

We need Alma Ata integrated (especially in Mental Health) and a 'No Wrong Door Policy' through social services.

Health is an example of a government administration that needs urgent reform. For a developed country, our issues are way below a practical mark. Health is a archaic system seriously neglected.

http://www.miacat.com/
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