Slashdot Mirror
Wealthy Americans Turning To Europe For Medical Treatment
theodp writes "Fox Sports' Jay Glazer reports that prior to undergoing recent neck surgery, Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning flew to Europe for stem-cell therapy that's used overseas but not yet in the United States. Earlier this year, Fortune reported that prior to his liver transplant, Apple CEO Steve Jobs took an unpublicized flight to Switzerland to undergo an unusual radiological treatment which was not available in the U.S. Some Americans are willing to go abroad to seek what they can't find at home in hopes of improving — or saving — their lives, and health providers are eager to respond. 'It moves fast, this industry,' said the director of Medical Tours International in 2007. 'They think, 'Look at all these sick, rich patients.''"
No, it doesn't.
It comes from the US law that medical devices and drugs cannot be marketed without FDA clearance. 21 CFR 820 and so on. That takes a lot of time and money.
It also comes from the US hospitals being very conservative when it comes to offering new procedures. Technically doctors can do just about anything. Even use devices and drugs "off label", by passing FDA requirements. But in reality, doctors must get approval from hospital IRB's before doing something experimental. IRB's are conservative, political, and slow. Most docs prefer to just stick with routine stuff.
But if you are rich, you can bypass those safety check and go to another country for experimental procedures using uncleared drugs and devices.
The world is made by those who show up for the job.
Medical treatment varies greatly from disease to disease, from country to country.
If you're looking for a general overview of the quality of care in a country, look at the survival rates of the widespread ones within a group.
For example, if judging cancer survival, you might look at prostate, breast, colon, and rectal.
"The highest survival rates were found in the U.S. for breast and prostate cancer, in Japan for colon and rectal cancers in men, and in France for colon and rectal cancers in women, Coleman's team reports."
So it's all about the fetuses.
I see...
You are welcome on my lawn.
No you have the most expensive health care system on earth. Per capita, Cuba has the best health care system on earth.
Seven puppies were harmed during the making of this post.
Indicators (infant mortality, maternal mortality, life expectancy) versus cost per capita. It's measurable. Not my area of specialty but I am a physician. I remember discussing it at length both in biostatistics and family medicine courses. Cuba and Canada were always near the top, and the US usually ends up between 7th and 16th place. Of course this varies year by year but the trend is pretty obvious. Look it up! I'm sure the world heath organization must have some searchable tables.
Seven puppies were harmed during the making of this post.
Well, not exactly - Cuba gets the best bang for the buck, but in terms of patient outcomes the World Health Organization thinks France has the best health care system in the world. The US, by contrast, ranks 37th, and Cuba 39th, despite Cuba spending a fraction of what the US does per capita.
I am officially gone from