When government runs health care, government gets to dole out "rights" to patients based on political expediency (and the election calendar). That's what's happening in England right now.
Patients will today be promised six new rights to NHS treatment as the Government attempts to push through a new raft of public service reforms in the run-up to the forthcoming general election.
What are the "rights"? How about the right to see a dentist. Yes, you read that correctly - in England you rely on the government to grant you the "right" to see a dentist. (After all, the dentists all work for the government.)
Here's the full list:
*An operation within 18 weeks of patients first seeing their GP
*A free health check-up for all at the age of 40
*Treatment from an NHS dentist
*Die at home if they suffer from a long-term medical condition
*See a cancer specialist within two weeks
*Be treated in accident & emergency departments within four hours.
Whatever its flaws, the American health care system at least starts with the understanding that you have the right to seek out and secure the type of health care you want.
...And in related news from the NHS:
Infertile women have been told they can only have IVF treatment if they are aged between 39 and a half and 40.
