Physicist Stephen Hawking tells US to stop attacking British health service

Blackleaf

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Physicist Stephen Hawking has defended Britain's health service after it came under attack from America's Republican Party who branded it "socialist."

Politicians in the US are currently debating whether there should be reforms to the US health service.

Hawking suffers from Lou Gehring's disease. He is completely paralysed and has spent years in a wheelchair.

An American newspaper recently embarrassed itself by declaring: 'People such as scientist Stephen Hawking wouldn't have a chance in the UK, where the National Health Service would say the life of this brilliant man, because of his physical handicaps, is essentially worthless.'

The newspaper mustn't have known that Stephen Hawking is British, was brought up in Britain, lives in Britain and has been treated many times by Britain's National Health Service (NHS).

The physicist has now defended the NHS, saying: 'I wouldn't be here today if it were not for the NHS.'

In 2000, the British health service was ranked 18th best in the world by the World Health Organisation, and the US health service was ranked 37th best.

Hawking was in Washington last night to be awarded America's highest civilian honour, the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

He is Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at the University of Cambridge and a Fellow of Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge.

'I owe my life to the NHS': Stephen Hawking tells US to stop attacking health service

By Clare Ellicott
13th August 2009
Daily Mail

Professor Stephen Hawking has defended the NHS after its severe criticism during the American political debate over health care reforms.

The physicist spoke up for the NHS after the Republican Right claimed it was 'evil' and 'Orwellian' in a direct attack on Barack Obama's plans to overhaul health care in the U.S.

Critics of the president have said his plans would introduce a 'socialist' system like Britain's.

Prof Hawkin, who suffers from Lou Gehrig's disease, said: 'I wouldn't be here today if it were not for the NHS.

'I have received a large amount of high quality treatment without which I would not have survived.'

He was in Washington last night to be awarded America's highest civilian honour, the Presidential Medal of Freedom.


U.S. President Barack Obama presents the Presidential Medal of Freedom to physicist Stephen Hawking during the White House ceremony



An American newspaper claimed: 'People such as scientist Stephen Hawking wouldn't have a chance in the UK, where the National Health Service would say the life of this brilliant man, because of his physical handicaps, is essentially worthless.'

However Professor Hawking - who as recently as April was treated in an NHS hospital - was quick to rubbish the claim.

President Obama wants a publicly backed scheme to provide for the 47million Americans who are without private health insurance and the 25million who are under-insured.

But opponents have begun a campaign equating the two - and in the process peddling some vicious myths, such as tales of NHS 'death panels' that deny care to the elderly and disabled and put an 'Orwellian' cap on the value of human life.

Republican Senator Chuck Grassley claimed that Democrat Senator Edward Kennedy, who is being treated for a brain tumour, would be left to die in Britain because he is 77.


Protests against Obama's proposals are becoming increasingly rabid, even leading to attacks on the UK'S NHS

And the Investor's Business Daily said in an editorial: 'People such as scientist Stephen Hawking wouldn't have a chance in the UK, where the National Health Service would say the life of this brilliant man, because of his physical handicaps, is essentially worthless.'

They had to correct the piece when it was pointed out that the physicist was born, lives and works in the UK.

Mr Hawking said: 'I wouldn't be here today if it were not for the NHS.'

The debate, which has dominated the U.S. political agenda for weeks, has seen former vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin call Mr Obama's proposals 'evil', and others routinely lambast the 'British-style' plan.


NHS argument: Chuck Grassley (L) said a man of Ted Kennedy's (R) age would not be treated for a brain tumour if he lived in England

Opponents to reform suggest it would be too costly for taxpayers, even though U.S. citizens spend double per head on health - both their own and the limited state care for the old and needy - than the average for developed countries.

TV and radio adverts have scorned NHS waiting lists and the 'rationing' of expensive drugs.



Critics claim that reform will result in less choice and fewer drugs being made available for patients. Some likened the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, which determines the cost-effectiveness of NHS drugs, to 'death panels' that decide who should live and who should die.

British diplomats in Washington are treading a delicate line in correcting falsehoods while staying out of a vicious domestic battle.

But Mr Obama has hit back against the campaign, warning it is designed to 'scare and mislead'.

At a public meeting in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, he said: 'Where we do disagree, let's disagree over things that are real, not these wild misrepresentations that bear no resemblance to anything that's actually been proposed.

'Because the way politics works sometimes is that people who want to keep things the way they are will try to scare the heck out of folks and they'll create bogeymen out there.'

A Department of Health spokesman said: 'The NHS provides health services on the basis of clinical need - irrespective of age or ability to pay.'

She added: 'The NHS sees one million people every 36 hours and 93 per cent of patients rate their care as good or excellent.

'In recent years patients have benefited from record levels of investment and more lives have been saved through better prevention and treatment - waiting lists are at their lowest ever levels, there has been a 44 per cent reduction in the mortality rate from cardiovascular disease and 50,000 more lives have been saved through better cancer services.'


People hold up signs as they attend a town hall meeting on healthcare reform in California


READERS' COMMENT

If these money grubbing hypocrites want too comment on anything about this country they should get there facts right. Life isn't a Hollywood movie and American history is certainly not made up of facts. The likes of the much venerated George Washington would have remained a loyal subject if the British Government had offered him a peerage. Don't forget either that the run-away "army" that revolted against the British, were for the most part a rag tag of hobos who thought that they had bounties to gain from the pillaging of there own native born citizens
- Mike, Liverpool U.K
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I'm not sure what's worse... the fact that US politicians spread such utter claptrap about our health service (as many people have no doubt pointed out, there IS private care if you want, and state care, the NHS, if you can't afford it) or the fact that the general populace of the US seems to believe the rubbish spouted by their politicans.

For the record, my wife (from American, born and bred no less) is today ashamed to be american... says a lot doesn't it?

- Ian, London
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Before the Americans rubbish our NHS they should at least see for themselves.
I worked for the NHS for over 35 years, yes it has it's problems, but the ethos that all treatment is free irrespective of who you are or your ability to pay is wonderful.
I had a collegue who worked in the USA hospitals for many years and his accounts of what went on out there were to say the least harrowing. Treatment provided on the basis of ones ability to pay. Once the money ran out then the patients would be shipped off into the state system, which was very poor.
Over 40 million Americans denied healthcare by being too poor to afford insurance.
No the main opponents to a sysytem like we have in the UK is the Doctors, Insurance, Drug companies and politicians who see a drastic cut in their profits.
Thus the continued scare stories they put out to the American public. Of course Mr. kennedy would have been treated in the uk and very well at that.

- Alan Smith, Merseyside
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I have lived in the UK for 40 years and the attention and promptness to treatment that myself and my family have received from the NHS has ALWAYS been first rate and is not dependent on ability to pay whatsoever.
- Connor, Windlesham
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The American health system is very bad. Many end up on the streets, literally, because of it.

However, paramedics and hospital emergency rooms are required by law to treat those who are suffering from life threatening injuries or illness. You will not be left by the side of the road while the medics check your insurance.

You will be taken to the hospital where you will receive the best trauma care in the world from specialists who have experience treating wounded soldiers in Iraq. Then you will be sent home with a handful of pills and a bill for $2million. If you don't have insurance you lose your house and file for bankruptcy.

This has been a very interesting discussion board! Thanks!

- T, Seattle, US
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This from the country where people die because they cannot afford to take up health insurance and medicine is pursued as a career because of the money that can be made rather than for vocational reasons. There are plenty of things about the UK which are horrendous at the moment - particularly under this disgraceful Brown regime - but the work of the doctors (like my dear, now retired father) and the nurses in the NHS should be applauded.
- Kate, Epsom
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I'm an American who has lived in Britain for 25 years. The NHS is wonderful! As I was growing up, my parents often couldn't afford some needed dental or healthcare for our family, even though they had full insurance.

My own children growing up in the UK have had far better care than most kids would in the States. I had thyroid cancer here & I had 1st rate care & now have full health. My friend in the States also had thyroid cancer, but they didn't give her enough radio-iodine treatment ( the NHS gave it to me twice to make sure the cancer was gone) so 5 years later her cancer returned & spread.

Americans also poke fun at the Brits for having bad teeth, but the truth is, moast Americans have diseased & missing teeth because they can't afford dental care, even with insurance! Only the wealthy can have their teeth veneered.

The NHS exists to take care of us. American healthcare exists to make as much money as it can.

- Joy, London
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I can tell you from personal experience that the NHS were far better than American healthcare for my pregnancy/labour. I am British and had my first child in the UK. The care and attention I received from the NHS was outstanding. I have no complaints what so ever. My second child was born in America and the care was minimal (and I have really good health insurance coverage). If I had known that it would be so awful, I would have come back to Britain to have my baby.
- MHC, USA
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http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...ent.html?articleId=1205953&commentId=20523872
We have a similar healthcare system to the UK in Germany, and we have no such problems as these rabid free-marketeers point out. The right-wing journalists just picked the European healthcare system most publicised for recent problems and ran with it. I would prefer to go to a British hospital where if I have anything from cancer to a migraine, it's free for me. I shall never enter the United States as long as they continue with their unfair health system where it costs to get well but free to die.

Professor Hawking has more experience than most of UK hospitals, and he is totally justified in feeling upset by these unfair jibes. It says more about the minds of Republicans than it does about the UK health system.


- Raymond, Saarburg, Germany

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dailymail.co.uk
 
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Machjo

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There are plenty of legitimate arguments both for and against socialized healthcare. But the arguments currently being thrown out by its opponents in the US destroys their credibility and just makes them look plain ignorant.
 

Machjo

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It also reveals how much they really know about the outside world and, scarier still, their impression of the outside world.
 

Serryah

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Dec 3, 2008
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The part I still do not understand - and I've talked with others on another forum - is just how could anyone not know where Dr. Hawking is from? It's not like it's hard to find out. The way I see it, it's just proof that those against the health care plans are just a bunch of clueless idiots who will buy into anything.
 

darkbeaver

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There are plenty of legitimate arguments both for and against socialized healthcare. But the arguments currently being thrown out by its opponents in the US destroys their credibility and just makes them look plain ignorant.

I would like to read some of these alleged legitimate arguments against socialized health care.
 

SirJosephPorter

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The part I still do not understand - and I've talked with others on another forum - is just how could anyone not know where Dr. Hawking is from? It's not like it's hard to find out. The way I see it, it's just proof that those against the health care plans are just a bunch of clueless idiots who will buy into anything.


It is not at all difficult to understand, Serryah. Most Americans are absolute ignoramuses when it comes to the world, they know very little about the world outside USA (many of them know very little even about the world inside USA, I will post an anecdote in the next post).

Plus Americans have this concept of Manifest Destiny. One offshoot of this concept is that everything American is good, that none of the other countries ever come up with a good idea.

So let us apply that to health care. In USA they have private health care, in all other developed countries it is managed by the government to ensure that everybody is covered. So it follows that American model is the only right tone, all the other counties are wrong.

Once you start with that hypothesis, you go hunting for horror stories about health care in other countries. I am sure there are some horror stories in each country (USA probably has more than most). These are not difficult to find. It makes for great propaganda. It feeds the American ego by telling them how great their country is, how people are dying in other developed countries in the street because of lack of health care, and that makes them feel good (and the do need that, after all 50 million of them are uninsured, they need something to feel good).

As to Hawking being British, why would an American know that, how does it concern him?

Anyway, Hawking is obviously the greatest theoretical physicist in the world, so the Republican who spouted those words of wisdom probably automatically assumed that Hawking must be an American. It wouldn’t even occur to him that Hawking may belong to another nationality. That is how conservative Republican mind works.
 
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SirJosephPorter

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I posted this anecdote in Canada.com forum (illustrating how ignorant the average American is), I don’t remember if I posted it here. Even if I did it doesn’t lose anything in retelling.

This was sent in by a woman to Ann Landers, may be 30 years ago or more. She sent it in to show how ignorant some people can be.

Her family lived in Iowa, and they were visiting their friends in New York. At their friends’ house, one of the neighbours asked her where they lived. She told him that they were from Iowa. The neighbour replied

“Iowa? Oh, yes. Except here we pronounce it as Ohio.”
 

SirJosephPorter

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Another instance of how ignorant some Americans can be. In canada.com forum there was an American participant. I had extensive discussion with him about many topics.

He did not know what Manifest Destiny was, the concept was totally unfamiliar to him. After I expressed incredulity that he had never heard of it, several Canadian posters wrote in saying that they were familiar with the concept of Manifest Destiny. He also did not know that ‘Social Democracy’ was, he had never heard of the term.
 

SirJosephPorter

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There are plenty of legitimate arguments both for and against socialized healthcare. But the arguments currently being thrown out by its opponents in the US destroys their credibility and just makes them look plain ignorant.

There are no arguments against covering every citizen, Machjo, that is what socialized health care is all about. In all developed countries except USA, government makes sure that everybody is covered.

USA lags behind all the socialized health care countries in terms of most health indicators such as life expectancy, infant mortality etc. And USA spends much more on health care than any other country.

Proof of the pudding is in the eating, socialized health care works, fully private, Devil take the hindmost health care doesn’t,
 

Niflmir

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I would like to read some of these alleged legitimate arguments against socialized health care.

Well, there are some pretty good arguments as to why you cannot plain out outlaw private health care. I think many people think instituting a public healthcare system would mean outlawing private healthcare, and this need not be true and in fact needs to be not true.
 

SirJosephPorter

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Well, there are some pretty good arguments as to why you cannot plain out outlaw private health care. I think many people think instituting a public healthcare system would mean outlawing private healthcare, and this need not be true and in fact needs to be not true.


Niflmir, I think Canada is a bit of an oddball among developed countries, in having government only health care (not that there is anything wrong with it, it works pretty well). All the other developed countries have a mix of public and private.

I personally would not be opposed to some private involvement in the health care, if done properly.
 

SirJosephPorter

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One word of caution about Investors Business Daily. It claims to be an investment magazine and may have some articles about investment. But for the most part it is a mouthpiece for the far right base of the Republican party, it has endorsed almost all the views of the far right base. Don’t’ be mislead by the innocuous sounding name, it is as extreme right as any far right website.
 

darkbeaver

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I have nothing against private health care I'm my own best health care provider. Outlawing private health care would be a mistake, failure to regulate religiously would be worse. I think whatever produces and maintains the best health of the people is vital to the best health of the nation. There is statistical evidence in support of that belief. There is also very good evidence that ill health is the favoured mechanism of the transnational private health care industry.
 

Unforgiven

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May 28, 2007
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Well, there are some pretty good arguments as to why you cannot plain out outlaw private health care. I think many people think instituting a public healthcare system would mean outlawing private healthcare, and this need not be true and in fact needs to be not true.

Exactly and as I see it, probably the best of both worlds. But as soon as you start talking about it the issues polarize and there is little room for discussion after that.

I wonder how much of that is simply torpedoing the subject to keep the status quo?
 

Cliffy

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Nov 19, 2008
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Dam the torpedoes! People like to get hysterical about anything to compensate for their dull and boring lives.
 

Niflmir

A modern nomad
Dec 18, 2006
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Niflmir, I think Canada is a bit of an oddball among developed countries, in having government only health care (not that there is anything wrong with it, it works pretty well). All the other developed countries have a mix of public and private.

I personally would not be opposed to some private involvement in the health care, if done properly.

We actually have a whole lot of private health care for some types of procedures. People just don't usually talk about it.

My wisdom teeth were removed by a private practitioner, for instance. I could have had it done by a public one, but due to locality and my insurance coverage, the private practitioner was more convenient. The wait time would have been the same, in my case.
 

#juan

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Aug 30, 2005
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Most Canadians are happy with their health care. I am too. What else matters? I've had open hear surgery and a few other procedures with narry a hitch and quick service. I can't think of a reason to complain.
 

karrie

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Jan 6, 2007
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The only thing I find frustrating is seeing people who can't get in reasonably quickly to doctors, or who are given a doctor and can't switch, regardless of how they like the doc. But from what I understand, that's a problem in parts of the US system too, so, what's the difference?
 

AnnaG

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Jul 5, 2009
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The best that ANYONE can do concerning their own healthcare is to improve on it. We are of the opinion that as good as the WHO says Canadian healthcare is, it can always be better. It's become apparent to me that if we want the same quality of healthcare as other Canadians, we should move to a major center where the hospitals are pampered by gov't, and leave the outlying areas with their first aid stations. We won't. We are pretty healthy. But we can't say the same for other people in rural areas who DO need decent healthcare and can't get it.
Whether people like it or not, we do have a multitiered healthcare system. And perhaps it is appropriate that the generally unhealthy city dwellers have relatively immediate access to healthcare and we rural types have to wait or travel hours to get it. City people need it more. :D
 

SirJosephPorter

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Regarding ignorance of Americans, here is something that will crack you up. I was just watching the show ‘Who wants to become a millionaire’.

In that the 8000 $ question was, what is the name of Obama’s daughters. Now, I would think any school kid in USA knows it (or at least should know it). I knew the names as soon as Obama became the front runner.

Anyway, the contestant didn’t know it, she phoned a friend. The friend was quite confident of the answer she told her it was A. The contestant went with that, and she told the wrong answer, she was out.