Medical Question for Canadians

Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
SandEagle

SandEagle

Lifer
Aug 4, 2007
16,809
13
0
a buddy of mine in Canada went in to the hospital 3 weeks ago and got a tongue biopsy. they cut off about 1 cm and they were going to take it for testing. he's been complaining of throat pain for awhile. since he didn't hear from the doctor, he went in today for results and the doctor apologized said that he lost the specimen.

wow, canadian healthcare sucks. i dont know how the legal system works in Canada. Is it like the US, can he sue? what other options does he have? i told him to take it to the local media or talk to a mal prac tice lawyer.
 
mmntech

mmntech

Lifer
Sep 20, 2007
17,501
12
0
It's not malpractice as the patient wasn't harmed. Most hospitals in Ontario contract out to private labs that handle bloodwork and biopsies. Probably got lost in transit. Not surprising. The biggest downside to government healthcare is that it's run like any other government agency. Bureaucratic, wasteful, hugely disorganized, and apathetic towards the people they serve.

Your buddy will just have to wait. Healthcare here involves a lot of waiting. A lot...
 
Jimmah

Jimmah

Golden Member
Mar 18, 2005
1,243
2
0
Shit happens, things get lost on both sides of the border. No one and nothing is perfect.

Or to phrase another way:

"Wow, 'insert any country here' 'insert public/private company/government' sucks."
 
Z

zoiks

Lifer
Jan 13, 2000
11,787
3
81
CraigRT said:
Healthcare here does suck. Although it's free.
You get what you pay for.
Click to expand...

My sister in law died of leukemia recently in Toronto. She was in the hospital for 7 months. I thought the care was very good. Perhaps its the critical care that is better and general care that sucks.
 
Bignate603

Bignate603

Lifer
Sep 5, 2000
13,897
1
0
mmntech said:
It's not malpractice as the patient wasn't harmed. Most hospitals in Ontario contract out to private labs that handle bloodwork and biopsies. Probably got lost in transit. Not surprising. The biggest downside to government healthcare is that it's run like any other government agency. Bureaucratic, wasteful, hugely disorganized, and apathetic towards the people they serve.

Your buddy will just have to wait. Healthcare here involves a lot of waiting. A lot...
Click to expand...

Having to remove a second chunk of his tongue isn't harm?
 
silverpig

silverpig

Lifer
Jul 29, 2001
27,703
12
81
SandEagle said:
a buddy of mine in Canada went in to the hospital 3 weeks ago and got a tongue biopsy. they cut off about 1 cm and they were going to take it for testing. he's been complaining of throat pain for awhile. since he didn't hear from the doctor, he went in today for results and the doctor apologized said that he lost the specimen.

wow, canadian healthcare sucks. i dont know how the legal system works in Canada. Is it like the US, can he sue? what other options does he have? i told him to take it to the local media or talk to a mal prac tice lawyer.
Click to expand...

Oh yeah? Well I read a story on the INTERNET about some guy in the US that DIED in a hospital!
 
tokie

tokie

Golden Member
Jun 1, 2006
1,491
0
0
It's a triage based system, which is why those in worse condition get better care.

The real issue has to do with all the people going to the Emergency Room because they have a cold or the flu. Also, the old people who get lonely and want to talk with someone so they go see a doctor.
 
NikolaeVarius

NikolaeVarius

Lifer
Oct 25, 2006
11,036
11
91
Could happen on this side of the border too.

Its not like some "Government Health Care" gnomes whisked it away. Shit gets lost sometimes in the gears of health care.
 
J

JimW1949

Senior member
Mar 22, 2011
244
0
0
I don't understand it. If the Canadian healthcare system is so terrible and nobody cares for the system, then why don't they get rid of the system and go with something different?

As far as suing is concerned, who would you sue? The doctor? Presumably the doctor did not lose the specimen so how could it be called malpractice? Would you sue the person who packaged the specimen for shipping? The courier who took the specimen to the lab? The people at the lab who should have gotten the specimen to run the test on? I am not trying to start an argument here, it's just that I am confused as to just who a lawsuit would be filed against.
 
B

Blintok

Senior member
Jan 30, 2007
429
0
0
I have witnessed similar. last year. agonizing pain. went to doc and was sent for xrays. 2wks later havent heard anything from doc. went to 2nd doc who got xray results (office was across hall from xray) got results. this was a Friday. bone spur at C4 and bulging disc at C5/6.

went to doc 1 on Sunday to ream them out. said they never got the xray results. on a positive note. they got results on monday. got appt to see sports medicine specialist on Tuesday. and was in for MRI on Wed.

now i know why they ask if you have Claustrophobia b4 going in for MRI. holy crap that thing freeked me out at first when i went in the "tube".

i have heard of people waiting months for an MRI. so guess i got lucky :)

and as a part 2.. the 2nd doc said they would book me for an MRI. but i never did hear back from them.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom