Man Dies in Winnipeg Emergency Room after waiting 34 Hours

No, it isn't what universal health care would bring.  The man died, because when he arrived at the hospital he never registered at the E.R. admissions desk to say that he wanted to see a doctor.  Instead, he just went and sat down in the waiting room.  If he had registered, he would have seen a triage nurse and then ultimately a doctor.

The fact that he died has nothing to do with the fact that Canada has a universal health system.  It's because he never told them that he needed to see a doctor, so they had no way of differentiating between him and someone who was accompanying another person to the hospital.

this is awful, i cant believe how they handled it! they kept saying they would check o him, but they never got around to it. its not the mans fault. a life has been loss which could of easily been saved. this is so sad and awful. so what if he didnt register, thats no excuse he was sitting there for 36 HOURS! why would he be sitting there that long? aint someone gonna ask him if he needs help, like come on! for real, this is unexceptable!

im am angered by this!!!

I think as more and more employers withdraw medical insurance, the tune may begin to change as more and more Americans join us the uninsured.  I don't wish it on you, but so many don't seem concerned about a problem that easily could affect them tomorrow.  Those who do have insurance, check you maximums, and pray your home or other assets can cover extensive health care once you have hit the ceiling.

I know, "can't they eat cake?"

politisite, I like this story. It's good stuff.

Thank you for raising this concern.  We do need better health care coverage, but we policyholders had better be careful to read our policies and make sure no changes can be made by the insurer (government elected officials) without our voting on it directly.  Why heck, I read that 94% of Americans are against the bank bailout, and they seem to be going ahead anyway. 

Who knows what they may decide to do if you need major surgery during an economic slump?

Mary

I went to an ER because I was having an Asthma attack and the triage refused to give me oxgyen because he said I was just having a panic attack. My O2 was at 84%. My daughter flipped out and took me to another ER. By the time I got there I was blue and going into heart failure. My O2 was now at 76%. I don't think it is the whole heathcare system but the incompetent people that are employed within our system. Another, case I am in the hospital and a no nurse answered my buzzer when I rang. I finally went out to ask for help and the nurse told me she was busy, and to wait until she was done, she was on a personal phone call. Then we my daughter was in the hospital a nurse kepe giving her morphine because she looked like she was in distress. This happened at 3 in the morning good thing I woke up because I heard my daughter gasping for air. After fighting with the nurse to get me the doctor they found out that my daughters lung had collapsed. Morphine supresses the breathing so this nurse with trying to find out why my daughter was in distress just pumped her with drug to knock her out (could have killed her if I didn't wake up). It is the heathcare professionals that are only in it for the money not for the passion like in the old day's. They can care less about the people that walk through those doors and if you don't have insurance it is even worse. In most cases you are ingnored all together.