A family member goes for a fairly routine by-pass, meaning non-emergency with little down-side potential, this morning and it has raised an odd story out of fifty years. Apparently my father’s aunt in the 50s was facing a diagnosis of blocked up arteries and was told there was nothing to be done. No accepting that, she heard of a surgeon in another part of Scotland who was doing something experimental and signed right up. She lived another eight years after. Apparently the guy decided it would be interesting to try something basic and, for a lack of a better way of describing, used his finger to scoop out the blockages – kind of like a mechanic might deal with a gunked up engine or a cook undoing chicken Kiev. There is something odd about Scottish humour that the moments that you realize that you are little more that an animate steak and kidney pie in some ways is entertaining and even comforting rather than disconcerting. We are assured that things are a bit more dignified these days but are a bit surprised how casual it all is – be there at 6:30 am for a 7:30 am start. Sounds like drinks before dinner.
So far the Canadian system, much maligned, has been fast, friendly and capable not to mention not devastatingly expensive. But it did take moving, moving 1500 km to another province and moving to a town with a medical school. If there are two tiers, it is definitely based on geography not personal wealth, though enough of that will get you much in any system.