[Klinky]

I am not sure this story is really about the need for socialized medicine. This is more about the need of specialist care and second opinions. If most doctors he saw determined that he most likely would not survive treatment, a socialized medical program may have very well denied payment for such treatments, and he would have had to resort to fundraising anyways.

Maybe if the system was flexible, nimble and could make judgement calls on the side of compassion, it might work, but this is difficult in both public or private sector institutions.

[twstws]

Good point. I do think the frequency of cases where the only option is private fund raising is much reduced under public systems.