Let me begin today by saying that I believe most Canadians are fairly pleased with their government-sponsored health care system. Everybody is covered and you are guaranteed medical attention when you need it. That’s not to say, however, that there aren’t problems.
For example, remember the good old days when you could sit down with your family doctor and discuss your medical condition for a good fifteen to twenty minutes. This was a real bonus if you have a tendency towards hypochondria, as I do. At the same time, you probably had to wait for an hour-and-a-half to two hours in the doctor’s waiting room beforehand.
Now, however, it’s all about volume. You’re lucky if you get to see the doctor for five minutes in one of these new family medical clinics. There’s only one way the doctor could give you less personal attention and that would be to see patients in groups.
I can hear the nurse now. “Flu sufferers gather together on my left. Heart trouble assemble on the right. Social diseases, move to the back of the room. Now everybody strip and the doctor will be with you shortly.”
I call this the S.I.U. system of health care, where the initials stand for “Suck It Up.” Maybe it’s an explanation for why so many people get involved in a variety of alternative-care programs. Think about how many people you know who have their own yoga instructor, naturopath, dietician, life-skills coach or psychoanalyst.
In my own case, I’m finding that the therapist appointed by the courts is suiting me just fine.
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For my first book, “Two Scoops” Is Just Right, please click here for the paperback version and here for the Kindle e-book version.
For the sequel, “Three Scoops” Is A Blast! (with the award-winning “Size of the Skip”) click here for paperback and here for Kindle.
For “Four Scoops” Is Over The Top (containing Hemingway short-listed “Caboose Follies”) click here for paperback and here for Kindle.
And finally, for my latest book, “Five Scoops” Is An Addiction!, please click here for the paperback and here for the Kindle digital version.
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