June 9 - Is The Day

[CHIMO]

Top court to rule on medicare test case

Ottawa — Canada's high court rules Thursday on whether Canadians can sidestep waiting lists by paying for faster medical care.

Legal experts said Wednesday they could not predict whether the Supreme Court of Canada will defend single-tier medicare or allow a cash-for-care alternative.

Other provinces have similar laws to prevent a patient from paying to get faster treatment. If the case is successful the laws all would fall, and Canada could be forced into a two-tier health system.

“If the court were to grant the appellants' claim it would be huge,” said Martha Jackman, a professor of constitutional law at the University of Ottawa. “It really would be the commodification of health care.”

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20050608.wmedic0608/BNStory/National/

Fingers crossed.