GREAT MOMENTS IN SOCIALIZED MEDICINE

Canada's socialized medical scheme is a mess:

The Supreme Court of Canada has struck down Quebec's ban on using private insurance for services covered under medicare.

The ruling means that Quebecers can essentially begin paying for health services immediately.

Dr. Albert Schumacher, president of the Canadian Medical Association, says the ruling could "fundamentally change the very foundations of medicare as we now know it.''

He called it "a stinging indictment of the failure of governments to respond to the mountains of studies that show we need real action on our health care system."

The case stemmed from a Quebec patient named George Zeliotis who argued that his constitutional rights to life, liberty and security of the person were violated by a year-long wait for a hip replacement.

Zeliotis brought his fight to the Supreme Court along with his physician, Dr. Jacques Chaoulli, who said he was fed up with the current system and wanted the right to set up a private medical business.

Why pay for something you can get for free? What's the old saying about getting what you pay for?