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Canadians Create Intelligent Medicine

Posted by timothy on from the please-don't-tell-the-hemlock-society dept.

RunAmuk writes "Engineers at the University of Calgary have developed a pill that, once swallowed, will determine how healthy or ill the patient is, and will release just the right amount of medicine accordingly, according to an article on Wired. As the sensors used in these pills grow more advanced are doctors going to be come obsolete except for real physical injuries? Of course, anyone who has been to a doctor in Canada understands that we need medicine that can do the diagnosis for them."

3 of 58 comments (clear)

  1. "i-Pill will cure thee of thy illness" by coolmacdude · · Score: 4, Funny

    Okay pill, I think I have a pain in my chest, come cure me.

    No wait, scratch that. It could be a heart attack.

    Maybe I should go to the doctor after all.

    --

    -You may license this sig for only $6.99.
  2. Re:Ignorant American by optikSmoke · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Here's something I've always wondered about: "up here" (heh) we call it public healthcare, I think I've only ever heard it called "socialized medicine" in the States. It's like the easiest way for the companies in the States to keep their massize industry is to slap a communist implication on it and let the public beat up anyone who voices their opinion for it.

    BTW, this is more of a general observation on US politics than a specific comment on healthcare.... it seems to happen in everything. Oh well, some misconceptions die hard.

  3. Re:Ignorant American by alphaseven · · Score: 4, Interesting
    Would someone please explain this comment to me? I thought Canada was supposed to have a very good health care system. It's socialized, isn't it? I would think that not having to deal with all the HMO crap would lead to more time with paitents and hence better care?

    Canada does have a very good health care system. Basically, Canadians have longer lifespans and lower infant mortality than Americans, while Canada spends far less per capita on health care.

    Lots of people will give you anecdotal stories about Canadians being denied health care and long waiting lists and incompetent doctors, but stuff like that happens under HMOs too. Some people call it socialized medicine, though I think it's also called a 'single payer' system, where the government is acting as your insurer.