Mr. Speaker, when the hon. member for Souris—Moose Mountain was talking about disasters in the medical system in Canada I thought he would probably mention another case from his riding which I believe is the most atrocious I have heard so far.
An elderly man was suspected of having a brain tumour. He needed an MRI. With Canada's wonderful system he could get one within a year. He thought that was a little tough, so he went across into the United States, as just about everybody does in that part of the world. He got his MRI and was told “You, sir, have a brain tumour. It is growing rapidly and if you do not get it removed right away you are going to go blind”. So he said “I still have a few years left. How much is it going to cost?” He was told it would cost $40,000. He said “I just happen to have saved in my lifetime $40,000, and my sight is worth it, so go for it”. They operated and removed most of the tumour. The gentleman went home quite content.
Then he decided that for his checkups, which he had to have after major surgery of that nature, including another MRI, at least he would get that done in Canada and it would be covered by our wonderful medicare system. Lo and behold, he was told “No, my friend, you had that work done in the United States. To hell with you. Go back there to get your MRI checkups because we are not going to have any part of you here in Canada”.
It is absolutely unconscionable that Canadians would be treated that way. First they get driven out of their country to seek medical care and then, when they come back, the bureaucrats are so mean-spirited that they will not even give them follow-up care.
I am curious. I would ask the hon. member what is going on with that particular case now. Does he have any new information?