[Excaliber]

I'm not changing the subject at all, indeed, BRING IT ON!

In my post #121 I cited two of my opinions based on studies. One was the WHO, the other was a study that shows Mexico and the USA run about the same rate for doctor related deaths in the USA. It was not clear to me WHICH of the two statements you wish to challenge.

The WHO study aside for a moment, I find it disturbing that you glossed over my statement that Doctors/Hospitals themselves are the third leading cause of death in the USA. That alone should tell you something is wrong assuming you wish to dismiss the WHO study.

Here is yet another study you may wish to dismiss:
The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine ranked the USA 15th out of 19 countries studied. Using different data points than the WHO study. Yet ANOTHER study using different data points than either the London School or WHO ranked the USA 13 out of 15 countries.

The evidence is clear, the USA lags behind most other industrial nations when it comes to health care. The question should be: WHY? No question we spend MORE PER PATIENT than any country in the world, yet we are not #1. WHY?

One reason may be because a large percentage of our population lacks coverage or is under covered. Various data/studies report a HUGE number of people dying each year in the USA because they lack medical coverage. Such numbers would certainly have a serious impact on ANY study as it concerns quality of health care. You could say, but you would be wrong, that for those WITH COVERAGE we have the best health care in the world. But for the NATION as a whole, we rank well below the rest of the world.

How is it possible we could have the best care in the world when the FACT is the third leading cause of death in the USA is iatrogenic? That "data point" is considerably more disturbing than any "study" by WHO or the London group!

BUSH tried to get a handle of health care reform. Even HE recognized we have a problem. He failed, as have so many Presidents before him. They have ALL recognized we have a problem! It is astounding to me that so many here refuse to acknowledge that simple premise so widely acknowledged by virtually every politician in the land for ANY party.