Canadian election

[ShadowHM]

Layton did make some comments about prevention, and he then went after Harper about his plans to step out of Kyoto.

I am afraid that 'prevention' in Layton's books seems to be more about environmental issues than public education and public spending on ways to keep folks healthy (and cognisant of the 'costs' of their lifestyle choices).

Preventative medicine, to me, means preventing the illness instead of spending more money on ambulances, hospitals, diagnostic tools and 'waiting lists'. There are many ways we could all keep healthier that we have little incentive to use and less knowledge about than we should.

To use an example that I do know much about: Everyone screws up their back occasionally. Few go to a chiropractor to fix them and get counselling before they become chronic problems. Most take a few pain-killers or a lot of pain-killers and continue their lifestyles. Eventually, they need very expensive surgery and hospital time.

Similarly, nurse practitioners as screening agents and 'health consultants' for those who seek medical help would be a cost-effective means of heath care delivery. However, that is unpalatable for most of us. We seem to desire quick fixes (just give me a prescription) than actual lifestyle changes.

Please don't get me wrong. I actively support public funding for health costs, especially for catastrophic injury. But I really do worry about the costs of a system that does not promote individual responsibility for health choices.