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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1986-07-02, Page 4PAGE 4—GODERICH SIGNAL -STAR, WEDNESDAY, JULY 2, 1986 Many languid summer days of my mis- pent youth were consumed with the sport of golf. In fact,,. many Languid summers, springs and.autuhlns were spent in avid pursuit of developing the smoothest swing, hitting the longest ball and learning the art of putting. I subscribed to the theory that golf was a gentleman's game and that my demeanor suited the sport *Co a tee, so to speak. But more than just a game, in those adolescent years golf became a passion and success was only measured in terms of a single -digit handicap. Exeeution and score DAVE SYKES meant everything then and when scores in- - advertently strayed beyond acceptable measures, the game was no longer fun. Time and other interests have eroded the Skills and while I used to play more rounds in a week than I. now play in, an entire season, the golf is' much more enjoyable. Score is not as important as simply playing the game. I keep promising myself that one of these sunlnlerS the permanent laYel, of dirt will be dutifully scraped from the clubs and put to Opinion THE NEWS PORT FOR GODERICH & DISTRICT SINCE 1848 „—,: A2r MM ,I,s'„ ",T, =.4N—^0® the Goderic..w NAL -STP, 2.P.rte O. BOX ee0 HUCK INS BT. INDUSTRIAL PARK '®ODERICM, T. N7A 4B® PUBLISHED BY SIGNAL -STAR PUBLISHING LIMITED Founded In 184B and published ovary Wednesday et Doyforloh, Ontario. Memberoftthrd e CCNA mberrod OCNA. Bubecrlptlona payable In advance 111012.111012.00,, e .00, !Senior Palatine $1O.0O privilege a Canada, ffiBO.00' tp U.B.A., $60.00 to all other countries. tangle Dopler DOC. Display. National end Cleeelfled advertleing rates available on request. Please eek for Rate Cord No. 1B effective Malabar 1, 'MOB. 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General Manager Editor SHIRLEY J, K.ELLER DAVE SYKES FOR BUSINESS OR EDITORIAL OFFICES...please phone (81916524-2614 Second class mail registration Member: number 0716 eNA CCNA ,, , •Patient - doctor trust 8 The most regrettable turn of events through the whole frustrating argument between the doctors and the Ontario government -over the, right to extra bill issue, is.the apparent lack of sympathy for the doctors among, average citizens, . The fact that a• recent poll taken in Ontario showed a full. 70 percent of the public is onthe side of :the government in this issuo., is the most alarming statistic that has come to our at- tention. When patients and doctors stand on opposing teams, is there any hope for a safe, sane approach to universal healthcare here? Ontario doctors are among the best in the world. They are.welt trained, well qualified and highly motivated to put the patient foremost. They are dedicated men and women who have alays deserved the trust and the respect of their patients. ' .lust about everyone.can-citei.ncidents when a doctor's skill and judgement intervened to save the life of a loved one, even your own life. When those life -and -death situations occur • red, the doctor's fee and the doctor's right to practice medicine freely and unemcumbered by government, were the last things on the patient's.mind ... or on the doctor's mind for that matter. All that seemed important at that moment was the relationship between the doctor and the patient; and of course, the doctor's ability to administer safe care and curative procedures. . There are those who remember the days when the• doctor took charge of the patient • whether there was payment or not, There are_those who can easily recall when the doctor scratched for a living right along 'with his .patients, and was content doing so. But. things have changed. It may have been the arrival of the medicare mentality.' But as excellent, competent medical care became everyone's right and privilege, the relatiogship between docto ,ands weekly use. It just never happens that way but the passion doesn't appear to wither with inactivity. In fact, each year the passion is fueled by winter telecasts of golf tournaments in warmer climes that tease the golfer to distraction. And in keeping with tradition, attendance at the opening round of the Canadian Open Golf Championship has caused this agent to break into involuntary and imaginary golf swings at the office. My hands are firmly clenched in a permanent interlocking grip (I never could catch on to.. the .a-verlapping method) and I am developing an uncon- trollable urge to hit practice balls around the yard. I should know better than to go the Cana- dian Open and yet I drag myself around the meticulously manicured course on opening flay every year. / Regardless of what attenda.iuce at the pro- fessional event (Ines to my psycho, watching a professional athlete perforin with great skill and aoctirac?y with seemingly little (- fort, tends to reduce t ie degree of 11ificu1ty of the sport. Their swings aro so patterned, smooth 'and effortless, that it leaves the weekend duffer wondering why he works so hal'd at the game, it looks .relatively easy. And after watching these players perfgrin wth a high degree of proficleucyl I am con- vinced that my own 1ev01 of ploy will tar crease immeasurably though the process of osmosis. Or something. Of course it just navel Seenis‘to. work out that way, Respite a desperate attempt to mimic the eveness and fluidity of the profes- sional stroke, my 1)011 always manages to squirt ott at unci angles and sudden dips, dives and turirb`appear to defy the natural lbws of gravity. I just blame it ort the dimples. My frequent forays to The Open have opened nay eyes to the fact that the.profes- slonai swing is conditioned out of practteo • and an unparalleled commitment to excel. They practice before their rounds, they play their rounds and then practice for a few there hours before retiring to the patting green for some more practice. • 1t takes some obvious,dedication to reach that level of proficiency, a dedication I was never intent on giving. 1 tired of practice sessions easily and can only measure the true valise of a shot if its made on the course. Hitting balls is boring although I realize the pro have a million practice shots behind them and thousands more aheatI of tibem. `!'hat's why I just dream about being on the ether side of the gallery ropes. Hear ye, Hear ye By Dave Sykes Doctors' behavior is unacceptable an irresponsible, says psychologist Dear Editor, "Thank you_sir or madam as the case may be." .There is hardly anyone in the -Western World who does not admire the Canadian Health System ip all aspects and every Canadian can be proud of the system. There is no system in the world which suits everybody and the Canadian Health System is no exception. ' During the last 10 years some physicians started extra -billing and it is said that it is today 13' percent. It means that nearly a few hundred doctors started charging more than OHIP would allow. This extra -billing has resulted in a loss of $50 million to the pre- vince. There was no assurance that more doctors won't do extraibtlling in future and it would have meant more loss to the province. The Liberal Government of Ontario took patient began to slip. Patients became more demanding; doctors became the appropriate action in themost democratic way and passed Bill 94 after making every effort to make a compromise with the physicians of Ontario. I have failedto.understand why the physi- cians got alarmed and have acted in a, way+ that has surprised everyone in the country. Somehow_ these 2000 physicians have thought that they can scare the world. - The Liberal Government used the democratic route. The physicians could have expressed disapproval through the media or gone. to the court. If the physicians had gone to the cowl and tried to stop Bill 94 constitutionally, everything would have been all right. The way a certain section of physicians have behaved can be termed as most ir- responsible, disgraceful and lacking reason. There was no need to close the hospital emergencies, closing the hospitals and threatening indefinite strike. , independent,) • Still when the rubber hit the road, the doctors have always been there for their patients testier suggest taxpayer tending to their needs, binding uP their wounds, treating their sicknesses, handing out their ., prescriptions for pills and powders., • • t ht ' t consider how this latest clash among government, doctors and It is time now that the members of the public come out openly and tell the doctors that their behavior is unacceptable. In my opinion there are elements of martyr lora complex, paranoia and phobia in the physi- cian's behavior and few - have sympathy with the physicians. i was shocked- to see. the group of physi- cians protesting at Queen's Park, chasing the Premier at private and public places as such behavior belongs to rowdy groups and not to decent people like the physicians. Bill" 94, is a law of the land and as_ long as . Canada is a democracy, the physician's threat has no meaning. I would like to ex- press thanks to those physicians' who have continued to serve the people in spite oftheir conflicts. I would like to say "Thank you sir or madam as the case may be."Yours truly, Saidullah Khan, Ph.D. extra -bili It is a little frig ening ogOTeI'ii1IIe in Ontario. The government may have its way; the people may applaud the government. But what of � feel being pressed Dear editor`tl patients will impact on the health care system the doctors who deliver the sevices we all depend en? How will they about intohn a public mold? How will they make t to thmuch mone y yge as in as short a tat the majority of ime as possi- determeir patients Tbe ined to ntario bane extra -billing byvthe think they are in the business to make as Y possible� Physicians. What's good for the government 1)l d h those same patients come forward for medical treatment • P y good for the too. e? How will they respond when ntfor filhngoutPersonally, I ios is public, We say doctors are professionals, and that they will behave in a professional manner Various companies like H&R Block have a when it comes to meeting our medical requirements. But do we have a right to expect that of 'very remunerative , business filling. out ther'n when we have so recently demonstrated to them that we did not think they were pro- various income tax forms that the public fessional enough to be trusted to set their own fee structures in a fair and equitable manner, gets periodically, and census forms over a according to their own needs and objectives and the ability of their patients to pay? , _ longer period of time. Why shouldn't the It is to be hoped that the doctors of Ontario can rise above the hurt they have suffered at public' be reimbursed for their loss 1)f time ercentage of their own patients who let them down in the one way they or money for clerical work that the govern - meat show del should d 'l could have supported them during this recent•battle withg ► We should a thet'egts will find that a politician isn't much good when there's a ruptured ap- Peterson, if he's going to enshrine this in t • he• the hands of a largep over► meat For if doctors cannot h ldask the famous premier David - law, so we will get a refund from the govern- ment to reimburse us for doing government business. I think the public merits the same consideration they give the doctors. Have a law made on behalf of the public so the government wouldn't be able to extra bill us. If they don't, just call the income tax representatives, and.let them.fipp��re it out for thelnselves. The excess pried" for gas woual he another consideration, too. How do we know that the provincial politi- cians are not overpaid? Maybe the public should have a strike on their behalf, if they would make known their salaries. turns think they're overpaid for what they do. They're -just as greedy as everybody else. They are constantly being accused of conflict of interest and political patronage. The law banning extra -billing is a case of the pot calling the kettle black. If in- dividuals sent their income tax receipts into the government for computing income tax returns, for the past five years, they, the g.overnment, would be snowed under with lis. Sincerely N.J. Minaker do that, pa r .. , . pendia to be removed, and free access for all is cold comfort when the doctors.have gone o, •„ a other places and professions in search of their freedom. Perha s something constructive will result Coiigratti1ationS grads This week hundreds of area school students left their elementary institutions and will now embark on anew educational experience. • . Graduation -from elementary school is an event of significant proportions in the lives of these young people and no doubt, for their parents as well. It is a. major step in their development. .- This week the Signal -Star chronicles the graduation ceremonies in the schools within the paper's coverage area in a special tabloid supplement. It is ,interesting to take a, close look a't the pictures of the Grade 8 graduates and the photographs featuring the academic and athletic award whiners • . The faces of these young people reflects the pride. of their accom lishme►its and the deter- mination to begin a new phase of their lives in earnest. These young people will become citizens in our communities and while many will leave the area to pursue careersin larger centres, many will linger and play active roles in the development of this town. We salute the graduates of all• the elementary schoo in the readership area and we trust that the investment we have made will pay dividends in future years. bite day we will look to you for ieaderShip just as you have depended on parents, friends, relatives, educators, coaches and cohunuiiity for guidance. It's a big step f or these adolesents but one they need not approach with trepidation or fear. The coil idence of today's' youth is exhilarating and beneficial:when put to good use. chaol• ant for he next two months, children will be spending languid summer'days in cWirths I,�. pursuit of their favorite sports and activities It will also mean the.+atl'eets will be dotted with carefree bike riders and playful children who may inadvertently dart out onto tlie'roadwiiy. Orivors4ill baVe to;aWa're`o'f the 'sittiatii n"arid take the necessary precautions, 1-t Dear editor, It was with regret that we learned of the Medical Officer of Health's resignation ef- fective July 23. e Dr. Cleslar's progressive, preventative health. attitude was, encouraging to the Health. Unit `staff. His approachability, and knowledge were also appreciated by many local physicians as indicated by their letter in last week's paper. Dr. Giesler will be missed, we hope the reasons for his resignation do not go un- noticed. The continuing disregard of this county's top elected and appointed officials for provincial legislation has led to a situa- tion disallowing Dr. Cieslar to perform all MOH duties 'as outlined in the Health Pro- tection and Promotion Act. We applaud' Elsa Haydon for tier accurate column Why Bother?' in the June 24th edition of Focua which outlines the situation resulting from poorly informed county coun- cil members. We wish Dr. Ciestar the best in his future endeavors and hope his actions will bring at tention to e Health Unit ae dmin st resent tion �and<.resultems with tlin constructive changes. Laurie. Paquette P.HN Phil Paquette P.H.I. . Youth organization speaks against alcohol abuse Dear editor, However, these are safeguard measures regard to drinking and driving. Due to the surge in publicity for organiza- only and the underlying issue of teenage dr We el that the urealng, bt problem the d oijust tions and issues connected with drinking drinking is not being questioned. Fora g ion and driving, and in this season of graduation these good intentions it still- Must be Making process involved in drinking parties, TOC ALPHA, a youth organizatio�� recognized that undcra ge �odrsinkingcIss II- behaviour. .legal. By removing, ,h eq with 600 members in On rio, has deirelope its own position on this issue. ° - ° teenager must face when drinking, adult be givinga message that they We contend groups which have initiated leaders may nage 'drnkln, or that any ways ;off preventing the can�reglrences• of sanetion tee kin and driving, ir. �annaunt of drinking:�ls acceptable as longas g to buses hired fo you„ stay off the roads ' TOC ALPHA belleVes that drinking/driv- ng cantr set and other safety 'measures are ° in upchannels of tom» a ilileans of opening n ... , muaication tween teens and adults with drug .. adiiatioris :`designated driver programa nd parent/student drinking/dlri`ingDili tracts. These measures are making a entree; most importantly they are saving ives. Yours sincerely, Ms. Kelly OUgheet President, TOC ALPHA (700) 887-6009 Mike Degagne Youth Co-Or'dinstor, TOC ALPHA (416) 291-3400