Socialized Medicine, Japanese style

I think most people think positive when it comes to Japan, and probably feel they're somewhat superior to the United States. Having been there, they're just the same as us. But there is a difference between us, our health care system. In Japan it's socialized, in the United States it hasn't been yet. However, under this Administration, things will probably change in the next four years and we can look forward to the following.

In this Associated Press article by Mari Yamaguchi, an elderly man was refused service 14 times before being admitted to a hospital, an hour after his collision between a motorcycle and his bicycle, and died shortly thereafter. The article further states, "More than 14,000 emergency patients were rejected at least three times by Japanese hospitals before getting treatment in 2007." According to the CIA World Factbook, Japan has an approximate population of 127.3 million. So statistically, 1 of every 9,093 people were delayed receiving medical treatment for an emergency condition.

The elderly man wasn't the only case of someone having been refused many times. An elderly woman was refused service 49 times in Tokyo. In another case, a pregnant woman was refused service 19 times and died from a brain hemorrhage after trying to give birth. These are isolated incidents, but highlight the problem with socialized medicine in an aging country much like the U.S. The Baby Boomer generation has already begun retiring, and straining Social Security. My generation faces the task of paying for it in ever increasing taxes or the Baby Boomers face the task of paying for it in ever decreasing services. Which is more likely? I expect a tax increase.