[sumo] (Slightly OT) Japanese medical system (was: Asashoryu Likely Return To Mongolia)

[Clay Holden]

On 8/21/07 2:13 PM, "Judith Douglas" <jdouglas at nyc.rr.com> wrote:

> Football players or other sports professionals who are injured must
> agree to have their information disseminated publicly.   It's apples
> and oranges.

I might have foolishly assumed that Asashoryu was considered a "sports
professional"... ;-)

As for treatment in Japan, when my wife and I were in Kyoto on our honeymoon
five years ago, I had to go to the hospital for emergency treatment of a
cyst that blew up like a balloon under my arm.

The form I had to fill out at the Emergency desk asked whether I was there
for consultation or surgery. In the US, I would certainly have checked
"consultation", but my wife told me, no, you are here for surgery.

So I went and sat in line for about 20-30 minutes, at which time I was seen
by a surgeon, who explained (in quite serviceable English, incidentally) to
my wife and me my condition and the procedures he would need to perform,
provided local anesthesia, and performed the required surgery on the spot. I
was provided with instructions, prescriptions, and discharged. In and out in
roughly an hour total.

My wife and I were quite concerned with the cost, because, although I had
quite good insurance in the US, I had none in Japan, and we expected quite a
hefty bill.

The total for diagnosis, surgery and anesthesia: ¥8500, or roughly $80 US.
The remainder of our visit, I had to visit a clinic each day to have the
dressing changed. Total for each of those visits: ¥1000, or < $10 US.

Can you imagine what an uninsured Japanese visitor might have had to pay out
of pocket for similar services in the US?

Anyway, absolutely no disrespect to the US medical system (I had to undergo
double-hernia surgery in recent months, and have nothing but praise and
respect for my surgeon), but given the choice, I might well prefer to face a
medical crisis in Japan than at home.

Best regards,

Clay