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My friend in Vancouver had lung xray show up something weird and the doctor scheduled her for an MRI. The appointment was in 7 months. Instead she got the MRI i

My friend in Vancouver had lung xray show up something weird and the doctor scheduled her for an MRI. The appointment was in 7 months. Instead she got the MRI in a private clinic for a pretty reasonable cost and came back with the results for her doctor. If that's not indicative of something broken, then I don't know what to tell you.

fwip 6y ago
What do you think the odds were that it was something that would cause problems in fewer than seven months, or that if she experienced symptoms that they would move her up in line? Genuinely asking, since I don't know any details about her situation or much about lung ailments.
- deleted 6y ago
  [deleted]
- grapehut 6y ago
  I don't know the specifics, but there's also the mental cost of the doctor seeing something concerning enough that warrants an MRI and waiting 7 months just for the test; praying nothing gets worse in the meantime.
  - fwip 6y ago
    That's a very good point.
nicoburns 6y ago
If she was able to get the MRI at a reasonable cost, doesn't that suggest that the system isn't that broken? As far as I can tell almost nothing comes at a reasonable cost in the US.
- DoreenMichele 6y ago
  I think the criticism is probably of the Canadian health care system a la "She had to go to another country to get her scan in a reasonable period of time (and that country has a terrible global reputation for being insanely expensive and broken itself in the health care department)."
  - rattray 6y ago
    She didn't have to go to the US for the MRI; implication was the clinic was in Canada. Private care isn't illegal or anything there. People from the US go abroad for care all the time.
    - DoreenMichele 6y ago
      Sorry, you are correct. Nevermind.
    - kgwgk 6y ago
      Some forms of getting private care are indeed illegal: https://www.capitaldaily.ca/news/private-two-tier-healthcare-brian-day-bc https://www.capitaldaily.ca/news/private-two-tier-healthcare...
      - newswasboring 6y ago
        From the article >“In Canada, the absence of a private system is not due to the illegality of private health care per se,” reads a 2001 analysis in the Canadian Medical Association Journal. “Rather, the lack of a flourishing private sector in Canada is most likely attributable to prohibitions on subsidization of private practice from the public plan.” Seems fair to me.
        mlyle 6y ago
        Things like paying for a non-public health scan are indeed facing legal crackdowns, though: https://www.kelownanow.com/watercooler/news/news/Provincial/BC_cracking_down_on_private_MRI_s_surgeries_and_more/ https://www.kelownanow.com/watercooler/news/news/Provincial/... So someone in this position now would have fewer options besides waiting their turn in the queue.
kjakm 6y ago
What were the results? If it was a serious issue that needed treated urgently there is a problem. If it was not then she was prioritised correctly and there's no issue.
- mlyle 6y ago
  By that logic, playing Russian roulette is safe if one doesn't die. The question isn't whether it was a serious issue, but whether it had a reasonable probability of being one.

fwip 6y ago

What do you think the odds were that it was something that would cause problems in fewer than seven months, or that if she experienced symptoms that they would move her up in line? Genuinely asking, since I don't know any details about her situation or much about lung ailments.

deleted 6y ago
[deleted]
grapehut 6y ago
I don't know the specifics, but there's also the mental cost of the doctor seeing something concerning enough that warrants an MRI and waiting 7 months just for the test; praying nothing gets worse in the meantime.
- fwip 6y ago
  That's a very good point.

nicoburns 6y ago

If she was able to get the MRI at a reasonable cost, doesn't that suggest that the system isn't that broken? As far as I can tell almost nothing comes at a reasonable cost in the US.

DoreenMichele 6y ago
I think the criticism is probably of the Canadian health care system a la "She had to go to another country to get her scan in a reasonable period of time (and that country has a terrible global reputation for being insanely expensive and broken itself in the health care department)."
- rattray 6y ago
  She didn't have to go to the US for the MRI; implication was the clinic was in Canada. Private care isn't illegal or anything there. People from the US go abroad for care all the time.
  - DoreenMichele 6y ago
    Sorry, you are correct. Nevermind.
  - kgwgk 6y ago
    Some forms of getting private care are indeed illegal: https://www.capitaldaily.ca/news/private-two-tier-healthcare-brian-day-bc https://www.capitaldaily.ca/news/private-two-tier-healthcare...
    - newswasboring 6y ago
      From the article >“In Canada, the absence of a private system is not due to the illegality of private health care per se,” reads a 2001 analysis in the Canadian Medical Association Journal. “Rather, the lack of a flourishing private sector in Canada is most likely attributable to prohibitions on subsidization of private practice from the public plan.” Seems fair to me.
      - mlyle 6y ago
        Things like paying for a non-public health scan are indeed facing legal crackdowns, though: https://www.kelownanow.com/watercooler/news/news/Provincial/BC_cracking_down_on_private_MRI_s_surgeries_and_more/ https://www.kelownanow.com/watercooler/news/news/Provincial/... So someone in this position now would have fewer options besides waiting their turn in the queue.

kjakm 6y ago

What were the results? If it was a serious issue that needed treated urgently there is a problem. If it was not then she was prioritised correctly and there's no issue.

mlyle 6y ago
By that logic, playing Russian roulette is safe if one doesn't die. The question isn't whether it was a serious issue, but whether it had a reasonable probability of being one.