iN DISCUSSION: Medical system is ‘broken’

This is where cold facts yield to the hottest of takes. Here you’ll find reader responses to stories, letters to the editor and newsletter editorials, or letters to the editor for the week. They may have been edited slightly for readability.

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Kamloops council censures mayor over conflict of interest

Are there 9 other people in this city who would like to join me in having this joke of a mayor disqualified? Anyone?

— Terry Gall, via iNFOnews.ca

The big question is, who are these people in Kamloops who support this political character and why?

— Robert Bishop, via iNFOnews.ca 

He’s gonna have to start paying the city to be the mayor at this rate. 

— Amy Giddens, via iNFOnews.ca

Why does the government and citizens of Kamloops put up with this insanity, seriously I’m so glad we moved The mayor is an embarrassment to Kamloops and all of their citizens.

— Teresa Roste, via iNFOnews.ca

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A Kamloops woman’s nightmarish search for a diagnosis for a crippling condition

My husband had similar issues a few years back. He was finally diagnosed with Ankylosing spondylitis (spinal/hips fusion). That diagnosis took years to be known. Proper medications certainly helped. We just kept going to doctors until we could get one that would/could help.

— June Samphire, via iNFOnews.ca

Our system is broken. What has to happen for the Federal and Provincial Governments to finally admit the system needs a complete overhaul!

— Rob Bucholtz, via iNFOnews.ca

Check for scleroderma. It is rare but sounds familiar to a close friend of mine. It took them months to figure it out.

— Gail Odber, via iNFOnews.ca

I am having similar (though thankfully) not as severe symptoms at the age of 71. Finally got into a rheumatologist who was upset when she found out I was on Prednisone (as it masks RA inflammation). She waited until some inflammatory markers came up and prescribed Methotrexate. I sure felt better on Prednisone, although I know it is not a long term solution. I recently spent 10 hours in emergency with severe nausea, headache and shortness of breath (I have a pacemaker and arrhythmia). I also had to cancel me appointment with my rheumatologist on short notice because of the retching, to which, she is quite upset with me. The overworked ER Dr. gave me 2 Prednisone 50 mg and suggested I might have Polymyalgic Rheumatica and Giant Cell Arteritis. Over the past 3 years I have had blurry vision and headaches. My eyeglass prescription changed (finally) to accommodate this, but still blurry. Have continued with 1 Prednisone daily, and am unsure about taking Methotrexate simultaneously. Help!

— Rebecca Gorman, via iNFOnews.ca

At 68 years old, for the first time in my life at the end of the month I will not have a family doctor. Of course now I have a real need for one. Yes we can blame the Liberals for this mess, no one can deny that.

— William Balyx, via iNFOnews.ca

I am well experienced with medical issues, starting back in 1971 when my kidney was removed, fast forwarding to the 1980s when my case proved to Dr Timothy Rowe, leading gynecological endocrinologist for UBC research, that polycystic ovarian syndrome was a disease. I never fit the physical shape or size but boy did I have the hormones, then through the 90s as fybromyalgia came into play. When I was told I couldn’t go on current tests for interferon for Hep C in the late 90s, due to lack of a kidney. I left the system behind and actually cured myself of Hep C and adult onset asthma. But I digress. The medical system has greatly changed through those years. It has become a drug-peddling circle, where doctors admit using prescriptions to diagnose and if it doesn’t work they let you fall through the cracks with no diagnoses. The medical system is beyond broken, it is a conduit for medicines that create need for more medicines. If you witnessed the changes as I have you’d understand how drastic it is.

— Musha Walls, via email

I agree with Beauchamp. Our medical system is broken! It is unacceptable to live in BC and not have access to a GP. To have to go to an ER for medical help once symptoms are too much to handle is crazy. That is NOT what ERs are for. The provincial government should be building / paying for medical clinics in areas where doctors are scarce. Perhaps low overhead costs would encourage doctors to go there. I am sure lottery money would build a few.

When I first started, teaching districts in more remote areas paid more. Maybe that’s what the provincial government needs to do. Then we get to wait lists for specialists and surgery, it’s ridiculous.  I was fortunate to get my lumpectomy for breast cancer within two months of my diagnosis. That was 14 years ago. Now I’m sure the wait would be longer. That adds stress, anxiety and less chance of survival to the already stressful diagnosis. More risk to the patient. Add waits for knee surgery, hip replacements, etc to the list. Our population is aging. We are living longer than our bodies were really built for. The government needs to take that into account. 

Yes our system is broken, it needs an overhaul. Look to the Netherlands and other countries where medical is accessible and make changes. Think outside the box! Spend tax dollars on the people who pay them, rather than on retreats and more.

Thanks for your information newsletter.

— Sandy Calder, via email

I think AI will change everything in medicine in the next decade.

— Bonnie Derry, via email

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Kamloops mayor’s early term legal risks exposed in newly released letter

It’s hilarious how much ignorance there is concerning legality. A letter about legal issues saying he can’t show his own lawyer? Seriously, how stupid can people get to think they have that kind of authority, and then for others to perpetuate that myth? Sit down morons.

— Marshall Krueger, via iNFOnews.ca

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What’s going on with that big empty piece land on Springfield Road in Kelowna

The strip at the depth of the Fortis property should be developed for housing or mixed-use along the Springfield corridor. The parcel to the south should remain and would be great farmed. Very desirable back yard, but as it is, wasted and unproductive.

— Nathaniel David Lee, via iNFOnews.ca

As I recall, the 2013 application included providing a permanent, year-round home for the Kelowna farmers market – but the ALR zoning still wasn’t lifted. Although frustrating for the owners not to remove the ALR zoning, they could lease it out for active farming instead of leaving it vacant. Meanwhile taxes on the combined ~25 acres are $25k per year, not a big impediment to continue holding the land.

— Keith Veerman, via iNFOnews.ca

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iN PHOTOS: Frightful facts about the praying mantis in Okanagan, Kamloops

I’ve been watching them for years in the Twin Lakes area for over 40 years.

— Sam Verigin, via iNFOnews.ca

I saw a European mantis on Tuesday morning in Maple Ridge.

— Scot Gibson, via iNFOnews.ca

Fascinating, I didn’t realize we had these intriguing insects in our valley, and would love to see one. Imagine, an insect who can turn his head around so it could see you better. I love it!

— Sharon Hyatt, via iNFOnews.ca

We have a white mantis in our garden which we had not seen before, do you have any info on why they are white?

— Elaine Hopkins, via iNFOnews.ca

—We’re going to see what we can find out for you, Elaine — Mj

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Teen entrepreneur makes rings out of antlers in Lake Country

Nice story. Good luck, young man, you are going places.

— Terry Feeny, via iNFOnews.ca

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Kamloops mayor calls journalist an ‘enemy’ and ‘biased’ after criminal probe dropped

Heavy details as to why he needs to go. He has no clue what he sounds like, all on his own, not curated by media at all.

One person actually ‘pats him on the back’ and his response is “He’s insulted me for two and a half years, so I guess he thought it was OK to assault me,”

Anyone who thinks like that does not belong in elected office. Skin so thin, a pat on the back breaks it.

— David Johnson, via iNFOnews.ca

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World Cup match comments costs BC video game company $60K after human rights complaint

Another outrageous decision by the woke BC Human Rights tribunal. Pathetic! Get rid of these incompetent individuals ASAP.

— Colin Pritchard, via iNFOnews.ca

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Pierre Poilievre wins Alberta byelection, regains seat in House of Commons

As a Conservative voter for many years this is unfortunate. A new leader is needed in the party. Too many of us on the right refused to vote for this career bureaucrat and will not vote for him in the future. Way too close to the Trump style of politics.

— Robert Bishop, via iNFOnews.ca

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