by Dr. Larry Smith D.C.

I confess that I am a big fan of the humorous and satirical TV series "The Simpson's."? In a recent episode, Homer, Marge and the kids hop on an airplane to visit their northern neighbors in Canada. The 1st thing Homer does in the city of Toronto is quite baffling. (Well, maybe not for Homer.) He runs out in the middle of the street in front of a speeding car and gets run over. Marge screams to Homer, "Why did you do that, Homer?"? Homer responds quite flippantly, "Health care is free in Canada!"?

Matt Groening's writers have satirically portrayed Canadians as a nation with a wonderful and free health care system. However, is health care in Canada really free? Would Homer Simpson actually want to leave his well being to the care of our Canadian health care system?

In the newly released book "Squandering Billions,"? Don Nixdorf and Gary Bannerman examine the mismanagement and inefficiency of the Canadian Health Care system. The Canadian definition of free universal health care only applies to those services provided by medical doctors and hospitals. If patients choose to get treatment from any other health care provider in Canada, they are asked to pay fully or partially out of their own pocket. " Despite all of the obstacles placed by the system to divert patients from chiropractors, optometrists, naturopaths, podiatrists, acupuncturists, physiotherapists, for whom the patient or insurer must pay some or all of the fees" ?as opposed to the "free"? medical doctor competition -these professionals demonstrate every day that people will pay for value received. It is high time medical doctors earned the same respect for their "free"? medical services to patients. Canada is the only universal access nation in the world that does not have a user fee to encourage responsible behavior by patients and service providers.

This book also demonstrates that the absolute power of medical doctors, pharmaceutical companies, health bureaucrats and hospital administrators enshrines mediocrity at the expense of patients. We have many dedicated and skilled doctors and nurses, but mistakes, inefficiency and malpractice in the Canadian health system may be causing 10 times more unnecessary death a year than the toll from traffic accidents and crime. Despite dramatic television footage and newspaper headlines reporting highway tragedies, driving is a much safer activity than hospitalization. A study by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the Canadian Institute of Health Information released in 2004 concluded that 185,000 patients out of 2.5 million admitted to acute care hospitals suffer death, disability, or extended hospitalization as a result of adverse effects of treatment. Between, 9,250 and 23,750 of these people die because of preventable errors.

Homer would find out in a hurry that our "free"? health care system is nothing to write home about. And should we always be relying on the system to keep us healthy or rather should we as a nation and society start taking more responsibility ourselves?

Larry Smith

Dr. Larry sees his mission today as one of living and promoting the tremendous benefits of chiropractic, health and fitness for the whole family. He uses his diversified life experiences to help his patients reach their maximum healing potential. He actively speaks in the community about health, healing and fitness and strongly encourages every person to take charge and responsibility for his or her own health. Dr. Larry is a published author and contributed an enlightening chapter to Aspatore?s recently released ?Inside the Minds: The Art and Science of Sports Medicine.? His presentations are now available in multimedia format and positively impact individuals, groups and institutions. Dr. Larry studied Science and Physical Education at the University of Manitoba and graduated with a Bachelor of Physical Education in 1983. He competed for the University of Manitoba Bisons Men?s gymnastics team for five years and was twice named Most Valuable Player. While competing as a gymnast, he was also a certified gymnastics judge for the Federation of International Gymnastics and judged provincially, nationally, and internationally. Dr. Larry graduated in 1987 from the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College in Toronto. He is a member of the Canadian, B.C. and Manitoba Chiropractic Associations and the Chiropractic College of Sports Sciences (Canada). He was past president of the North Vancouver Island Chiropractic Association, peer review editor for the Journal of Musculoskeletal Medicine and Official Chiropractor of the Morningstar Invitational Golf Classic.

Dr. Larry has been very involved in the local community and has worked as a team chiropractor for the Mid-Island Boxing Club, Arrowsmith Mountain Bikers and Oceanside Youth Football League. He participated in The Arthritis Society's "Joints in Motion" program at the Year 2000 Honolulu Marathon through which he fundraised $4000 for Arthritis Research. He most recently volunteered his services as a chiropractor for CORE (Chiropractic Overseas Relief) in La Isla de la Juventud, Cuba.

He is in his 19th year of practice in beautiful Parksville, B.C. Canada, and is a member of ORCA (Oceanside Running Club Association); the Aqua Terra Triathlon Club and the Ravensong Masters Swimming Club. He is now in training for the Iron Man Canada Triathlon to be held in Penticton,B.C. in August, 2006.