The B.C. judge who rejected a request to overturn part of province’s medicare rules — including a ban on private health insurance — himself had surgery in a private clinic several years ago..Justice John Steeves’ 800-page ruling on Friday said the current B.C. health system meets all the criteria of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms..Ironically, Steeve was a patient at a private medical facility a few years before the trial began in 2017 – having an operation to fix a sinus problem..In 2017, the Vancouver Sun reported Steeves, gave lawyers for both sides verbal assurances that he didn’t go to the Cambie Surgery Centre – the facility involved in the lawsuit – for his sinus operation..And after first disclosing the information during pre-trial conferences, the judge also provided other information upon request, such as who paid for his surgery..Steeves said he didn’t pay for it privately because Vancouver Coastal Health did, the Sun reported. Under such contracts, a clinic is paid a per diem amount for a bundle of cases. in 2016, VCH paid False Creek Surgery Centre a per diem rate of $5,850 to do outpatient day surgeries. .The medical director of the False Creek Surgery Centre, Dr. Mark Godley, has said he thinks there isn’t a judge in Vancouver who hasn’t used a private surgery centre..The Thursday ruling was hailed by supporters of public health care as a huge win for the current system..It is widely expected the case will now go to the Supreme Court of Canada..The central point of the case revolved around laws that ban private health insurance, and prevent doctors from charging patients on top of what they receive from the province for medically necessary services..Cambie Surgeries clinic and other plaintiffs argued the rules breach the Charter of Rights when the public system is backed up with long waiting lists..In Alberta, David Shepherd, the NDP’s health critic hailed the ruling..“I am very pleased that the courts upheld the principles of Medicare today against those who would try to Americanize our public healthcare system,” said Shepherd.. POLL: Many Albertans say they will ignore Christmas COVID lockdown .“The court concluded, based on expert evidence, that the introduction of private healthcare would actually increase wait times. This is an important message for Alberta..“The BC Supreme Court’s ruling sends a clear message to Premier Jason Kenney and his Health Minister Tyler Shandro, that their rush towards American-style healthcare is completely wrong for Alberta families. The ruling against the Cambie Clinic strikes down a privatized approach that Jason Kenney is attempting to impose on Albertans today.”.Dave Naylor is the News Editor of the Western Standard.dnaylor@westernstandardonline.com.TWITTER: Twitter.com/nobby7694
The B.C. judge who rejected a request to overturn part of province’s medicare rules — including a ban on private health insurance — himself had surgery in a private clinic several years ago..Justice John Steeves’ 800-page ruling on Friday said the current B.C. health system meets all the criteria of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms..Ironically, Steeve was a patient at a private medical facility a few years before the trial began in 2017 – having an operation to fix a sinus problem..In 2017, the Vancouver Sun reported Steeves, gave lawyers for both sides verbal assurances that he didn’t go to the Cambie Surgery Centre – the facility involved in the lawsuit – for his sinus operation..And after first disclosing the information during pre-trial conferences, the judge also provided other information upon request, such as who paid for his surgery..Steeves said he didn’t pay for it privately because Vancouver Coastal Health did, the Sun reported. Under such contracts, a clinic is paid a per diem amount for a bundle of cases. in 2016, VCH paid False Creek Surgery Centre a per diem rate of $5,850 to do outpatient day surgeries. .The medical director of the False Creek Surgery Centre, Dr. Mark Godley, has said he thinks there isn’t a judge in Vancouver who hasn’t used a private surgery centre..The Thursday ruling was hailed by supporters of public health care as a huge win for the current system..It is widely expected the case will now go to the Supreme Court of Canada..The central point of the case revolved around laws that ban private health insurance, and prevent doctors from charging patients on top of what they receive from the province for medically necessary services..Cambie Surgeries clinic and other plaintiffs argued the rules breach the Charter of Rights when the public system is backed up with long waiting lists..In Alberta, David Shepherd, the NDP’s health critic hailed the ruling..“I am very pleased that the courts upheld the principles of Medicare today against those who would try to Americanize our public healthcare system,” said Shepherd.. POLL: Many Albertans say they will ignore Christmas COVID lockdown .“The court concluded, based on expert evidence, that the introduction of private healthcare would actually increase wait times. This is an important message for Alberta..“The BC Supreme Court’s ruling sends a clear message to Premier Jason Kenney and his Health Minister Tyler Shandro, that their rush towards American-style healthcare is completely wrong for Alberta families. The ruling against the Cambie Clinic strikes down a privatized approach that Jason Kenney is attempting to impose on Albertans today.”.Dave Naylor is the News Editor of the Western Standard.dnaylor@westernstandardonline.com.TWITTER: Twitter.com/nobby7694
