ratemds.com/canada/index.jsp
[Editor's note: Further comment from David Mitchell in an e-mail message:
"having taken a look at that ratemds.com/canada/index.jsp site, it strikes me that they're making the same errors that university 'evaluation' of teaching advocates have. In the case of 'teaching' we lack a clear model of 'good teaching' to use as a touchstone so the evaluations typically focus on other things. Moreover long ago two very different studies showed [1] that students rate most highly instructors from whom they learn least and [2] lecturers trained by a drama coach improved their ratings considerably despite not changing content/method. So what is good teaching? Not sure if the same applies to physicians; who/what is a good doctor?"]
In principle, no professional, technical, political or unspecialized person offering services to the public should be beyond evaluation. However, anonymous feedback, while possibly accurate as a reaction, may sometimes be unwarranted or misplaced. While many Wednesday Nighters expressed their belief that this was the only valid means of expressing their disenchantment with a health care provider, others, while acknowledging the increasing popularity of this and like websites, were far less enthusiastic for several reasons.
The principal concern was the anonymity of the person posting the criticism, depriving the professional of the opportunity of responding or of seeking redress to libellous or slanderous attacks. The anonymity of the complaint precludes the posting of a response from the physician or divulging confidential information. A fundamental tenet of common civil law is the requirement to hear the other side.
It is the Professional bodies, in this case the College of Physicians and Surgeons that are responsible for maintaining professional and ethical standards and it is to them that complaints should properly be addressed and the blame placed if they are not.
It is only medical practitioners among all professionals that are permitted to perform medical, but more particularly, surgical acts without risking being charged with the commission of an assault. A verbal, or at times, written contract has been entered into, one point of which is informed consent. A patient visiting a Doctor’s office is presumed to have consented to treatment.
Some years ago, a study of patient complaints was commissioned by the board of management of a major teaching hospital in Montreal. To nobody’s surprise, it was determined that few, if any of the complaints related to the treatment and were very specific as to the nature of the hospitalization. No complaints had been received from psychiatric patients; obstetrical patients almost always complained about the perceived cleanliness of the bathtubs; surgical patients about the cleanliness of the rooms, especially the drapes around the beds and medical patients about the meals. It is not unusual for frightened or upset patients to explain their anxiety, concerns or fears by criticizing their care providers.
The fact that the site is vastly more popular in Canada than its counterpart in the United States speaks to the frustration felt by Canadians in seeking out timely medical care, the result of poor planning for the provision of medical care. A large part of our Federal and Provincial budget goes to maintain our health care system, yet comprehensive planning to meet the medical needs of the population remains inadequate. This is not confined to Canada; there is not a country in the world that has a perfect health care system.
Note: See The NEW YORKER
Cuba
(See also: Jacques Clément’s Report on Cuba)
The world is waiting to see what happens in Cuba following the expected death of Fidel Castro. One of the wild cards is the population of Cuban exiles in Florida – who do not necessarily all share the same view of what the future should be. A recently returned visitor, who has been going there for over 10 years says that in the past 10 years, little has changed with respect to poverty; however economic growth last year is claimed to have been 7%, (on $36 billion GDP) largely attributable to tourism, but there are also important mining activities and a large trans-shipment industry.
Recent polls indicate that an increasing number of the population is becoming disenchanted with socialism (43%), however it is questionable how many Cubans feel confident that they can answer any poll honestly. There are requests for half a million over a year visas to the U.S.
The average Cuban has lived his or her entire life under Castro. People are afraid to speak and believe that Castro is their father, friend and Cuba is the greatest country. To understand what will happen when Castro dies, you have to look to former communist regimes in Europe. It won’t change overnight, but will happen gradually.
For largely ideological reasons, the U.S. has obsessed about Cuba for over 40 years. The Embargo has caused much misery and the only concessions the Americans have made is to permit Cubans residing in the U.S. to send $1500 per year home to their families and to have somewhat relaxed the prohibition against export of pharmaceuticals to the island. At least one observer believes that the U.S. is anxious to exploit the resorts and tourism potential of Cuba where currently, American firms (airlines, hotels, developers) are frozen out of the marketplace.
video Cuba by Jacques Clément, Peter Perkins Brian & Morel Mkt 5:31
The Stock Market
There is some concern that the end of the bull market in equities may be approaching. However, predicting the date and time of the last gasp remains difficult. Our Wednesday Night technician points to the decennial history of the market in years ending in seven from 1887 to the present, each indicating, without exception, a decline ranging from nine percent in 1947 to forty percent in 1937. Cautious investors should be afraid, but at least one market guru believes that whilst we have turbulent times ahead, the time is not nigh for the end of the bull market. The fundamentals are still good. It’s right to be cautious for the present time. In 1929, the crash occurred on September 21 and on September 20 of that year, President Hoover declared that the health of the American economy was never better.
[Editor's note: while we generally avoid disputing any facts advanced on Wednesday Night related to the stock market, we must put in our two cents – a small investment: the crash actually occurred in October of 1929, more precisely on October 28 and 29 see: stock-market-crash.net/1929.htm ]
A new phenomenon (and new term to many) is America's subprime-mortgage market, which is the subject of much media coverage that has dented investor confidence again. The Mortgage Bankers Association reported a rise in mortgage defaults and activity in home foreclosures in this market, which lends at a 2-3% premium to borrowers with weak credit.
Subprime jitters are spreading Mar 14th, 2007
Lord Black in Chicago
Lord Conrad Black, who was born in Canada and made his money in the U.K., is currently on trial in the United States. Egalitarian Canadians appear to exhibit some glee in anticipating the fall of the mighty but it is doubtful that Americans will have the same prurient interest. The selection process will tend to eliminate jurors [if any exist] who have followed his career to the extent that Canadians have and there will be witnesses for the defence who will be in a position to contradict the prosecution, on such issues as the designation on non-compete fees to Conrad Black. Further, the type of business he is in and the relationship between the individual and the business presents a grey area in which it will be difficult to define the line between business and personal – even if extravagant - expenses. It must be remembered that these are criminal charges and must be proved beyond any reasonable doubt. The one act that has the potential to trip him up was the illegal removal of files. Significantly, when he was removed from the company, the shares dropped from fourteen dollars to one.
Radio
Like the report of Mark Twain's death, reports of the death of radio –at least FM – are greatly exaggerated.
What will happen to the price of oil?
Real estate
BBC
Stephen S. Poloz
Wed1305 report 
Wed1307