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Testimonials
Shona Holmes (Toronto, Ontario, Canada)
Shona Holmes, a brain tumor survivor, was told by her local doctor that it would take months to get on the appointment calendar of a neurologist or endocrinologist in Canada. As her vision rapidly deteriorated, Holmes crossed the Canadian border to seek treatment at the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Arizona. The successful procedure saved Holmes vision and potentially her life.
Upon return to Canada, Holmes’ U.S. health care bills were denied by the government-run health care system that charges her a monthly insurance premium. Shona and her family have been left to cover the costs.
- “Brave sojourn from Ontario; Mayo Clinic neurosurgery restores patient’s vision,” In Our Care (Summer 2007) http://www.mayoclinic.org/patientstories/story-339.html
Holmes is now suing the Ontario government and government-run health care system to allow for private insurance so others, including her children, will never be faced by a health care system unable or unwilling to provide lifesaving treatment without delay or denial. Holmes’ the lawsuit seeks to strike down a Ontario provincial ban on private medicine, private MRI clinics and private health insurance. The Canadian Constitution Foundation, which is supporting her case a similar case in Alberta, hopes to eventually bring the issue before the Supreme Court of Canada.
- “Lawsuit challenges ban on private care,” The National Post, By Tom Blackwell (September 6, 2007) http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=a9bf86b3-590b-4c57-93c8-83d4f163549f
- “Patients suing province over wait times,” The Ontario Star, By Tanya Talaga (September 6, 2007) http://www.thestar.com/comment/columnists/article/253664
- “Second Plaintiff Joins Lawsuit Over Timely Access to Health Care; Action Against Government Dubbed ‘Ontario Chaoulli’,” The Canadian Constitution Foundation (CCF) Press Release (September 5, 2007) http://www.canadianconstitutionfoundation.ca/files/pdf/Holmes%20news%20release%205%20…
“Mother’s Tragic Tale Underscores Big Flaws Of Canadian Health Care,” Investor’s Business Daily, Opinion, By Shona Holmes (July 9, 2008) http://www.investors.com/editorial/editorialcontent.asp…
Patients Testimonials
- Brian Lee Crowley (Halifax, Novia Scotia, Canada)
- Brian Turner (Oaks Green Mount, Rastrick, United Kingdom)
- Dorothy Griffiths (Stoke-on-Trent, United Kingdom)
- Dr. David Zitner (Halifax, Novia Scotia, Canada)
- Grace Paterson (Halifax, Novia Scotia, Canada)
- Helen Evans (London, United Kingdom)
- Highlights
- Richard Newman and his son Roy (Calgary, Alberta, Canada)
- Shona Holmes (Toronto, Ontario, Canada)
- Tim Evans (London, United Kingdom)
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Health Care Fact of the Day
Citizens of the U.K. pay 11 percent of each pound they make in weekly income to the NHS....learn more.
About CMPI Advance
The Center for Medicine in the Public Interest Advance (CMPI Advance) is a nonprofit, non-partisan 501c4 organization that sponsors the communication of ideas that focus on the understanding by policymakers, the media and the general public of medical innovation and to effect change in public health care policy in a way that makes health care more affordable, preventative and patient-centered.