Gosh, I hate to drag this up here, but I think your statement about American health care is a little misleading. True, there is no comprehensive federally managed program that provides health care for everyone, but there are laws that require hospitals to admit folks who are seriously injured without regard for their ability to pay.

I did a quick Google on indigent health care costs. Apparently Texas spent $4.7 billion in fiscal year '98 on health care for the indigent. That amount has got to be way higher now. I also found this rather inflammatory, anti-illegal immigrant site that raises some issues here:

http://www.vdare.com/guzzardi/health_care.htm

IMO, it is the working class (who are often uninsured/under-insured and can lose their life savings when tragedy strikes) and the elderly not yet elgible for Medi-Care who suffer most under the current piece-meal system.

Just wanted to point out to the int'l forum members that patients aren't left bleeding to death on the sidewalk in front of the hospital.

Keep us updated if you can, SutterCane.