The argument of public versus private health care is a very contentious one and I agree with points on both sides of the table. It is this inability to side with one or the other that I typically play the devil’s advocate of the discussion. Either that or i just listen quietly whilst everyone else argues about it.

Adam Gopnik and Malcolm Gladwell debate the issue of health care in a not so recent issue of Washington Monthly. Aside from the normal arguments, an interesting observation made by Gladwell is that men are interested in high quality, acute health care; that is they are not interested in easily accessible health care, but that when they do take the time (and perhaps money), the health care they receive must be top notch.

Women, seeking accessible health care tend to find a better fit with the Canadian health system, while the above description would mean the that the US system is more suitable for men.

The article goes to discuss how the men-centric US health system led to the invention of 1) Helicopters flying patients to hospitals, and 2) organ transplants!