When discussing health care, proponents of the PPACA often get around to talking about Canada.  They say that what they have in Canada is our future.

If this news article about a man who died in a 34 hour wait in an ER is our future, I’m not interested.  He died while waiting to be seen, and was only “discovered” when another patient pointed out that he was dead. (also readhere and here)

The news articles are appearing because the inquest started today, five years after he died, September of 2008.  Take careful note that in proper bureaucratic style, it was “no one’s fault”, which translates to: They followed the rules. Nothing will change to ensure that this doesn’t happen again.

The inquest will include some political grandstanding.  Real action is unlikely.  No one will be punished.  No one is accountable.  Stuff happens, I guess.

This is the nature of bureaucracy.  They follow rules.  Remember that next time you are waiting in line at the post office.

A “death panel” need not have life or death decisions in its job title.  It can just be an organization that doesn’t do its job very well.