Doctors & a Broken System
August 24/2026
Doctors are just like you or I, some tall, some short, some amiable and many not. I am a little ticked off with my doctor at the moment. It’s the first time in my long life I have had a female doctor and at the outset, I was reasonably pleased as this woman was quite amiable and very attractive. A good place to start. In my country, there is little chance of picking your physician, even though this is probably the only person you would trust with your most secret personal thoughts and problems. It would be nice to have a relationship bordering on a personal level. I don’t need to know all about my doctor’s personal life but if I feel obliged to share mine, it would be nice for him or her to know a bit of my background beyond what my medical history has printed on my file folder. For almost five years, since covid, I have not seen her face below her eyes. I can barely understand her remarks about my condition as this medical mask is permanently affixed to her being. Appointments are brief, seldom more than 10 minutes and discussions on more than one or two ailments are frowned upon. When you are on your last few yards of your “life marathon” toward 100 years old, you usually have a number of subjects that concern you, health wise. Discussing a wife’s condition is closed with a, make an appointment, I can’t discuss her condition without seeing her. After being her patient for over 12 years, I had to ask for a physical examination. She briefly stuck her finger in and that was that. I realize that procedures used years ago are discarded for more up to date methods but personal contract is far more revealing than a text or phone call.
I am well aware that doctors are a busy bunch and the work is stressful at times for many, but the money is the reason for it in many cases. With a few exceptions, we find caring and thoughtful doctors that consider the financial gain far down the scale of things. I do not know of any doctors today that are not rich by any standards we are aware of. Stress and hard work should go hand in hand with being well paid.
The medical wellbeing of Canadians has come a long way but I am not sure if our health care methods will last much longer, if multiple changes are not made, Canada will recede to 3rd. world status in health care. We need a total reset to improve the present system. Direction by overpaid civil servants from an Ivory tower somewhere remote from the scene does not seem to be working. Budgets should be given to each division rather than throwing gobs of money in bulk for each hospital administration to distribute themselves. Until free enterprise is inserted into the system, we will see more funds needed for poorer and poorer services. Private sections of medical care have been established but not enough to make a difference. Waste and irresponsible management has crept into areas and government is its own enemy when it comes to responsible management. There are far too many administrators making hundreds of millions of our tax dollars. In my little corner of this great province, our head hospital administrator makes more than half a million dollars a year and her staff of a dozen or more will all be in the upper income bracket of 100 thousand + a year. Bonuses should be eradicated from all civil servant jobs, especially upper management.
You have a good point if you are thinking, what does this bozo know about health care? I am not a doctor and I am not a nurse, but I have been a patient and a critical observer of the care we get in Ontario compared to other foreign countries and what should be standard care for all. I have experienced more than my share of the system. I have lost a brother and my father due to hospital mistakes that were covered up. I spent 6 days on a gurney in emergency with no toilet facilities and told to pee in a sink next to my bed. I had just been informed that I had cancer and would be dead in 6 months. Only the hospital administrator could release me from that Hell.
Over the past 40 years I have made my home in the USA for the maximum time they allow. This would add up to almost 20 years. My health care experiences in the US, and there were many, were fantastic by any comparison to what I and my family have had here in Canada.
I have dodged death 4 times and still kicking at 90 years old.
This last comment brings up another beef I need to get off my chest.
In most cultures all over the world, seniors are respected for their wisdom and experiences. They are brought into the family home when they no longer have the ability to look after their personal needs. This is still a practice in many families in Canada, but not so much. I am seeing a change in the last couple of generations. Respect has been lost in many cases and getting old for some is just too much to handle so store them away in a senior home or suggest “MAID” We are getting to be the highest cost generation when it comes to health care and housing. Observe our federal government’s new laws that encourage easier access to abortion and MAID.
I have experienced many parking tickets in hospital and health care clinics. I can afford them, annoying as they are. I fail to see why, when you are at your lowest ebb, parking your car is just another annoyance and can cost hundreds of dollars for many that can’t afford it. When I casually mentioned that when another appointment would not be necessary, that would save me $5.00, she responded from under her mask, “that’s nothing”. However, much of the funds taken from these lots is going to private enterprise with a small portion going to our health providers.
I have touched on a number of rants that I feel need to be said. Many, I am sure, hold these thoughts inside and think things will get better in time. They won’t if we allow this to continue.
My wife and I are the proud parents of two deaf children. Our boys are just under two years apart and are now settling into their own retirement. They are debt free and have families to keep them occupied. Bringing handicapped babies into the world at our age in our early 20’s was a real challenge. We were aggressive parents once we realized that government in Ontario and Canada were sadly lacking in knowledge and understanding in health and education of the deaf community. This was in the early 60’s. We were in constant discussions with both these government agencies and did manage to accomplish some of the improvements we see today. We have had to fight for our boys and the betterment of thier community and make government aware of the, Silent ones.
Change and a better life style can only be accomplished by YOU.
Paul D. Scott rantingsandraves.com