public vs private health care

In one of our recent visits with our dad to a private doctor, he (the doctor) started a whole tirade about public vs private health care.

'I'm [one of] the best doctors in my field. It's impossible for a doctor working for the public health system to have the expertise that I have.

I go to the US once a month and participate in medical conferences. I'm up to date on the latest medical advances.

Does any hospital / public health care system send their doctors to participate in medical conferences? (and on what frequency).

...

I can give the prescriptions for the best medicines in the market.

A doctor working for the public health care system cannot.

Even if he knows about the better medications (doubtfully so, since he doesn't participate in any medical conferences, and he's probably not up to date), his hands are tied. He's not allowed to write prescriptions of medications that are not in the public 'basket' (because that would be like saying that the public health care medicine committee is wrong abut not adding this medicine to the basket).

Yes, the doctor was somewhat arrogant.

But, putting that aside, he still had some points to be made.

What do you think?

P.S. Although we still have issues with my dad's health, for the meanwhile this doctor seems to have helped more than any other doctor has.

~~~~~

messages from mom

Today, thinking about Mom, I did a google search on her name.

I was surprised to find to feedbacks that Mommy left on one of her favorite sites, a little less than a year before her passing.

One of the feedbacks was a general thank-you message.

The other sent shivers down my spine.

A short feedback, but she talks about her illness, and how she's contemplating chemotherapy.

"It's hard for me to say that there is no choice... not deciding is also a decision... We are able to decide, but we do not know what is good for us... We have to do our best... to say say that there is no choice - that's succumbing to despair."

 

So much like my mother.

She fought almost till her last day. 

May her memory be blessed.

Mom is gone

It's been a few months, but I've haven't the nerves to write about it since.

Mom is now in heaven.

Her last few weeks were very tough, for her and for the family.

At least now she isn't suffering anymore.

The void is hard.

I try not to show, but here and there I still break down and cry.

Mommy - I miss you so!