The Opinion by Dr Dino Ramzi ("Why
I'm staying in the US," October 30, Vol 4, No 19)
left me bewildered. Over six years ago I came to Quebec
to do my fellowship training at McGill — from Maryland,
where Dr Ramzi now lives. Montreal presented the same
system that Dr Ramzi left behind, but my experience
has been very different. Thus I've chosen to stay.
I was born and raised in the States,
and grew up in a family of physicians. In no other country
is healthcare treated so politically as in the USA.
Alternate plans are constantly touted, but ultimately
trumped by the bottom line. Health insurance officials
with no science background whatsoever — but sometimes
making 10 times more than physicians — often make
decisions about treatment and patient management. All
this leaves tens of millions without access, funding
or insurance for healthcare.
I'm sure Quebec certainly could
benefit from the return of Dr Ramzi and others like
him. And when those doctors say they're working really
hard in the US and weren't put on this earth to enjoy
the lifestyle, it becomes obvious: what's the point
of earning more money if there's no time to enjoy it?
Without doubt, our health system has many longstanding
problems that absolutely have to be fixed. The remedies
must come, because the demand is growing. But still,
Canada's universal model is the world's truly moral
one, with hope for solutions, in a country whose resources,
currency, environmental focus, cultural competence and
moderate socialism are ascendant. It's hard to find
a better place to be right now. — Dr Shuvo Ghosh,
Montreal, QC
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