Opinion: Socialized medicine makes France a great place to get injured

To the editor: My wife was also a beneficiary of France’s excellent single-payer healthcare system. (“I had a health crisis in France. I’m here to tell you that ‘socialized medicine’ is terrific,” Opinion, Nov. 18)

A few years ago we went to Paris. My wife was wearing an orthopedic boot as she had a broken bone in her foot. She tripped and landed full on her forehead, which swelled up at least half an inch. An ambulance took her to an emergency, where she was asked only her name and address.

Over the next eight hours she was given an MRI, a CT scan and an X-ray of her foot. Eventually, the doctors considered her condition to be improved and stable, so hospitalization was not necessary. Upon discharge she was given a prescription, the scan prints and a report in both French and English. She was also told the bone in her foot was healing nicely.

About four months later we received a bill for $63.

What everyone in the U.S. needs to ask is why we are an industrialized nation without a nationalized health plan, and who profits from that.

Paul Pruss, Lake Forest

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