The Wonders of Socialized Medicine

The Wonders of Socialized Medicine - By Doug Bandow

As America heads down the path of government control over medical spending and treatment, it is worth looking across "the Pond" at Great Britain. How's socialized medicine working out over there after several decades? Great!

Reports the Daily Telegraph:

Health service trusts are "imposing pain and inconvenience" by making patients wait longer than necessary, in some cases as long as four months, the study found.

Executives believe the delays mean some people will remove themselves from lists "either by dying or by paying for their own treatment" claims the report, by an independent watchdog that advises the NHS.

The Co-operation and Competition Panel says the tactic is one of a number used by managers that "excessively constrain" patients' rights to choose where to be operated upon, and damage hospitals' ability to compete for planned surgery.

It claims unfair practices are "endemic" in some areas of England and pose a "serious risk" to the Government's drive to open up the health service to competition.

Well, the patients involved were probably a bunch of hypochondriacs. And certainly their lives and well-being weren't nearly as important as saving the government a few pounds. Anyway, the politicians know best. So why should anyone complain?

Just like in America in coming years.

We have seen the future, and it is grim. Americans should start planning to helpfully "remove themselves from lists" just like in Great Britain. That will make the government's job a lot easier!