We need to be honest when assessing our health system, by looking at the underlying causes for the conditions being treated by our health system. This means judging our own society and the affects it has on individuals. Behind a lot of our behaviour which ends in affecting our health are abnormal though popular ways of coping with the stresses in our society,(drinking, being busy, smoking, shopping, eating, extreme exercise, competition, many addictions). Our society is not that good in lots of ways, especially the mania of workplaces and the pressure to get more and compete with each other. None of this encourages a healthy society, but we are stuck in it and it is getting worse, and the health service is expected to pick up the pieces from a dysfunctional society.

jillham,

When a Pych. student back in he 70s, one lecturer could not receive funding for a study into the prevention of alcoholism. He was told the money was there if the people to study were already alcoholics. Perhaps, little has changed

Two letters to today's SMH are typical of many others:

http://www.smh.com.au/letters/index.html?page=3

ABBOTT BREAKS PROMISE TO PORK BARREL FOR ELECTION

"The outlook for recovery from rectal cancer is unique for each individual. Many factors are involved, when considering the chance of survival after rectal cancer treatment.

Long-term survival generally depends upon the stage of the cancer at the time of diagnosis and treatment.

According to stage, the following approximations of the likelihood of survival 5 years after treatment are as follows:

Stage I: The probability of being alive in 5 years is approximately 70-80%. Stage II: The probability of being alive in 5 years is approximately 50-60%. Stage III: The probability of being alive in 5 years is approximately 30-40%. Stage IV: The probability of being alive in 5 years is less than 10%."

--- WedMD

http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2007/s1973995.htm

http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2007/s2043989.htm

Abbot did not keep his promises. Also, I understand that attempts at leveragw through Catholic Cardinal George Peel failed, appreciating this a matter of life and death, rather church and state.