By Wendell Potter
(This post comes from a courageous individual in the United States who once worked for a private health insurance company and now is one of the more vocal advocates in his country for public health insurance. As we Canadians slid down the slope to private health care, we should take note of what people like Wendell Potter, who have worked both sides of the street, have to say.)
One of my favorite bumper stickers reads, “If you’re not outraged, you’re not paying attention.”
U.S. public health care advocate Wendell Potter
That’s sort of how I feel about the healthcare debate. If more Americans paid attention to the fate of neighbors and loved ones who have fallen victim to the cruel dysfunction of our healthcare system, they would see through the onslaught of lies and propaganda perpetrated by special interests profiting from the status quo.
Since I started speaking out against the abuses of the insurance industry, I have heard from hundreds of people with maddening and heartbreaking stories about being mistreated and victimized by the greed that characterizes so much of the profit-driven American healthcare system.
http://wendellpotter.com/2011/07/its-time-to-get-outraged/
Niagara At Large 
The Americans have a lot to teach us about dysfunctional health care. If we listen to the advice of people such as Mr. Potter, we can avoid their mistakes. Unfortunately, that isn’t likely to happen. It looks like we’re about to learn the hard way about the perils of profit-driven health care. Too bad.
(I wrote an earlier commentary about this: “Toxic Kool Aid…”)
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I’m of the opinion that it’s the insurance industry and fear of medical malpractice suits here in Ontario that is driving this absolute refusal on the part of hospitals to disclose information to the public. As I have said before, look no further than the Ontario Hospital Association website to see the obsession with risk management. OHA president and CEO Tom Closson’s offered a blistering condemnation of the speakers’ at yesterday rally outside GNGH, in the pages of today’s Star:
“But the head of the Ontario Hospital Association blasted the unions, and local and provincial politicians, for their participation in the protest, calling it ‘reprehensible’ at a time when hospital staff is attempting to get the outbreak under control.
‘How unhelpful can you be? Basically turning it into a panic situation in the community as people see their local politicians out there picketing the hospital,’ said OHA president and CEO Tom Closson.”
Which makes it clear that 1) Tom Closson certainly doesn’t want the public to know, and 2) he either knows nothing whatsoever about the history of the problems unleashed by the implementation of the HIP in Niagara or he just doesn’t give a damn. Why should he, when the Minister of Health does his bidding?
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I’m not an authority, but I’ve heard from a medical professional that “tort law” might well impact this “non-disclosure” situation, Again, we have lots to learn from the American situation.
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