This can be a somewhat tricky question. Those defending nationalized medical care offer primarily one argument - that people are happy with it according to polls. A more important question is whether or not the actual medical care for serious conditions is better or not. But let’s go back to the first question.

The results of polling can be misleading for a number of reasons, but let’s assume the questions were asked in a non-leading way and the sample was representative of the population. Even if so, the majority of respondents would be relatively healthy people who never needed a cardiac bypass or cancer treatment. Online surveys in particular would attract mostly younger respondents with statistically less medical problems. How can you draw conclusions about a medical system from people who spent little if any time with that system?

The problem with nationalized systems is inadequate treatment for those who suffer from serious or life-threatening conditions. The fact that so many people are coming forward with their stories, along with the Canadian Supreme Court even making a statement about people dying on waiting lists, means those numbers cannot be insignificant. Canada’s High Court stated, “Access to a waiting list is not access to health care.”

Furthermore, while there is support in Canada for the principle that no one should be denied access to needed medical care on the basis of ability to pay, it should not be construed to mean they are happy with the overall system. One can find surveys that reveal growing dissatisfaction with the Canadian system. According to a recent poll called The National Pulse on Health Strategy, 80 percent of Canadians want major reforms to the health care system:

Two-thirds of Canadians (66 per cent) tend to be supportive, more or less, of a host of new models of financing in order to reduce stress on the system - for example, where everyone (except those with low incomes) pays a small amount for health care services out of their own pocket. They also tend to support strategies such as using nurses or other health practitioners rather than physicians to provide certain services. Just under half (45 per cent) tend to be supportive of market-oriented reforms–greater efficiency, accountability and customer service, including private sector companies delivering health care services.

Another survey entitled Canadians concerned about the future quality of health care, found that a majority of Canadians are now very concerned about the future of their health care system, and assessments of current quality have declined.

You can find others such as Canadians favour fundamental changes to health care system over other Romanow Commission options. Increased spending through higher taxes is the least acceptable approach to a majority of respondents.

One commenter offered a video as persuasion in favor of single-payer medical care. The video consists of one disgruntled man complaining about his experience in an American emergency room. He actually complained that he had to wait too long for a simple cut finger requiring a single stitch. It probably did not occur to him that in an emergency room there might be others with more serious conditions that are treated ahead of him.

As far as video persuasions are concerned - the videos against nationalized systems are more convincing compared to those in favor.