I strongly disagree with the June 27 editorial “Film guts U.S. health care system,” as Clarence Page refers to high customer satisfaction in Canada. A June 9, 2005 decision by the Canadian Supreme Court ruled that “access to a waiting list is not access to health care.” The suit was brought by a Canadian doctor, Jacques Chaoulli, on behalf of a patient who was waiting for surgery and had no other recourse but to file a suit for treatment. Mr. Chaoulli wanted to refer his patient to a private health carrier, but Canadian law bans private payments for health care. The Supreme Court ruling opened up the market to private insurance in Quebec. If the people in Canada were so satisfied with their current system, why are doctors filing lawsuits against it?
James Rottet ( [email protected]) is a legislative specialist for The Heartland Institute.
