NationMaster - Discussion - France Profile

Margaret Grant - Brittany 13th March 2010	One wonders 'how' the French hit the top of the health league tables. Their opthalmology leaves a deal to be desired, not only do they NOT have up-to-date diagnostic equipment (not in Brittany anyways), i.e. NO Heidelberg Camera,, NO Humphey for range of vision. But, their opthalmologists are less than professional, one did not even dilate my eyes and two of them, hospital and pvt clinic, missed my glaucoma! My glaucoma was picked up n the UK by my optomertrist...note, optomertrist. As for gatroenterologists...a wonder I survived that unbelieveably ghastly experience at the hands of a French hospital. Having been badly prepped, poor results invited even more prep fluids right up to an hour before going down for a full GA for endoscopy and colonoscopy. One does NOT take liquids an hour before a procedure inviting a GA. ALSO, all fluids are stopped 12 hours BEFORE such procedures. They did not follow correct protocols as laid down in ALL such procedures. The endoscopist could not see what he was doing, only took three tiny samples, might well have missed serious polyps, but...he could not see and yet knew that the prep was a failure. The procedures should NOT haave taken place, they should have been stopped. Rheumatologists who are bent on pushing the drugs. Not interested in alternative approaches, but, are VERY interested in pushing the hardest and most expensive drugs available - wonder whose pocket they are in? These are drugs with the potential for appalling side effects. In an open medical conference recently, the Prof rheumatologist claimed that any causal lymphomas/cancers were easily 'dealt with' - "c'est ne pas grave - one cuts them out!" (His words.) Hmmmmmm. yes. Also claimed that NSAIDs whilst they 'could' cause gut problems, those problems were "...soon dealt with, as in France, the French 'knew what to do'; give medications to bolster the gut. And, 'perhaps in America and in England the doctors did not know this!'" One shakes one's head. Such arrogance (these gut protectors are basically m/f in UK and in Nth America) but, more to the point, this thinking is but a horrible/horific pathway leading to medical malpractice... As for dentists. Forget it. They are badly trained. Their apaproach is to extract! As for physiotherapists...even a professor of rehabilitation admitted recently, in public, at as medical conference, that the phyios over here are badly trained. The one I was directed to didn't know anything, at all, of my condition. Told me that I knew more than him. Yep. Right on the button. I do. UK doctors and specialists are better trained. Why even my optomertrist in the UK has up-to-date equipment, state of the art in fact. I shall be returning to the UK. The hype of 'good French health care' is just that. Hype. Oh yes, and the French take more drugs than any other EU country, bar none. A French person is not satisfied unless and until they walk out of the clinic/surgery with a sheaf of scripts. A bad scene of unecessary expense and mismanagement. And. The French also have their share of MRSA and C-Diff and E-Coli problems in hospitals.
Alyssa 8th June 2009	prengnecy rates in france? ugh..disapointing
May (Perpignan, France) 12th July 2008	I have a son who has had a bilateral lung transplant in Duke hospital, Raleigh Durham North Carolina, on the 14th of March 2008. He is British, (I live in France) although at the moment he lives in the USA. If he were to come to France are there transplant centres here in France which could treat him post-operatively. Thank you, I look forward to hearing from you.
wilmasotas (Victoria, BC, Canada) 25th August 2007	I am searching for brain tumour information in your health system. I have a very ill sister with an inoperable brain tumour, and I am wondering how I might access health care in this field in France. Any leads would be most welcome. Merci beaucoup!
Scott Clark 25th October 2005	Great website. Really helped me find information for my Geography school project.

Share your thoughts, questions and commentary here

Want to know more?
Search encyclopedia, statistics and forums: