Preventable death rankings: Worst is U.S., best is France

by Brian White (Subscribe to Brian White's posts)
Jan 8th 2008 8:01PM

The United States is the richest and most powerful country on the planet (although China is making a run for the title). So it.s distressing to hear that the U.S. ranks at the bottom of the barrel when it comes to preventable death rankings for treatable conditions among 19 leading industrialized nations.

Raking in the top spots were France, Japan and Australia. So, why is the U.S. so low? Researchers reporting their results in Health Affairs peg the cause at a faulty U.S. health care system.

If the health care industry performed like the three countries that rated best in preventable deaths, there would be 101,000 fewer deaths every year in this country. Wow. That's 100 thousand, folks.

And this I agree completely with: the researchers also said that these preventable deaths are an important way to gauge the performance of a country's health care system. I wonder what Michael Moore thinks about these rankings?

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Comments (81)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)

Vishaal 1-09-2008 @ 1:25PM

Processed food...THAT's it....PROCESSED food is out of control in the USA.

ben 1-11-2008 @ 8:19PM

health care........what health care .... see Michael Morre's documentary......SICKO....! so many " BIG" corps making corps ! (ie) MiK'e Dee's / Red Head burgers / FRIED chik'n KING .....on and on ! WAKE UP America stop eating like ther is no TOMORROW !

ben 1-11-2008 @ 8:24PM

P.S. France...yes they dont want to fight.....well do you. but their caloric intake and smoking is much higher than the U.S. BUT they have GREAT ....PAID FOR HEATH CARE,,,, and they don't " NUKE" everything in the microwave....they also drink " TRUE" bottled water.....no " TRIPLE FILTERED" so called WATER SOURCE in the NYPWC>

RobM 1-12-2008 @ 7:06AM

Have you ever lived anywhere that has this "free" healthcare?

It isn't free.

Gary 1-11-2008 @ 8:28PM

And who made Michael Moore an authority on anything??

Joe Patek 1-11-2008 @ 8:38PM

Don't fall for Michael Moore's or anyone else's propoganda and ridiculous rhetoric.
This country offers about the best medical care in the world. No country is without flaw... but the best research, medications, surgeries etc stem from the US.
Trust me, if Dennis Moore needed medical care, he'd be the first one crying at a US hospital ... I guarantee he won't go out of the states.

D 1-17-2008 @ 9:37AM

Great point---so many people complain about our health care system while we have access to the best care in the world. My family is from England where health care is free! Its free and it sucks. They tell you what doctor to go to, and when...five months later. My aunt died waiting for another transplant because they forgot to give her the rejection med's the first time. Talk to anyone who has been seriously il in a country where healthcare is socialized and you will hear how the wait time and quality of care (amount of schooling, knowledge, etc) is completely ridiculous.

I don't have health insurance and I still do not expect to get it for free!

Affordable health care is the key. A $50-$75 doctor's visit beats $150 any day!

Gretchen Franklin 1-12-2008 @ 1:18AM

Yeah, the U.S. offers the best medical care -- to people with good insurance and lots of money to back that up. Cuba has a lower infant mortality rate, for crying out loud. And did you read the one about the uninsured woman who bled out on the floor of the ER of a county hospital (think it was L.A.) after waiting for medical attention for 45 minutes? The U.S. offers the best of everything -- if you have enough money. Otherwise: not.

Kelly 1-12-2008 @ 2:41AM

Sure, we have great care in the US of A, IF you have insurance to pay for it. If you don't, you'll get fixed up, but you'll be in the poor house (or living in your kid's basement) until you die. I wish you people who have consistent health care coverage from your huge corporate employer would get off your pedestal and take a look at how other Americans live.

undrgrndgirl 1-12-2008 @ 5:01AM

offering and getting are two different things...if you don't have insurance you don't get...don't fall for the insurance company b.s. that health care is better here...its not.

Richard 1-11-2008 @ 8:42PM

Gary, the person that made Michael Moore an authority on anything is the same one that made you one on questioning him. What makes you a "know it all" to question whether someone else is a "know it all"? The hypocricy in this country is part of the problem. Everyone is an expert but expects everyone else too or is too much of a coward to take action themselves. Then when someone does finally take action, they are questioned about their credibility and the methods in which they do it. You are another perfect example of that.

rob 1-11-2008 @ 10:15PM

richard, michael moore is the biggest hypocrit of all! All you need to do is watch just one of his movies to see that. in the columbine movie hes bashing the NRA, but yet hes a member of the organization also! All his movies are not documentaries but a personal view of different situations that piss people off, he twist things around to make the worst possible case out of them. i cannot speak for sicko, cause i havent seen it, but even affordable healthcare should be offored. even free health care, based on a sliding rule for income. ive got two kids and a wife they all have health care except for me, we can only afford coverage for them cause its so damn expensive. just remember, insurance companies are business entities and are not out to work for you, they are there to make money and they do it how ever possible, even if it means that people die every day for being rejected for not having substancial coverage for their injuries or illnesses!

Joe Patek 1-11-2008 @ 8:44PM

How is it that the one's that gained so much in this great country are the ones complaining the most?
Especially the Hollywood and entertainment idiots.... they're the least educated, get tons of money for doing the least, and complain the most. Maybe if they lived in the real world they'd think differently. Remeber, they are free to leave at any time!!! God Bless America !!!

D 1-17-2008 @ 9:36AM

Once again, right on!
The super-rich can live outside of the rules they want to push on other people. Like you said, they are free to leave whenever they want. I'd like to see a few of them actually live like the people they visit on their 'humanitarian' voyages!

Dee 1-11-2008 @ 11:57PM

Think!
Almost all your statements are without sensible or reasonable backing. Why would Hollywood and entertainment people be any more idiots than anyone else? Why would they be the least educated? Who are you comparing them to? Why do you believe they complain the most? Calling people names isn't a convincing argument against their ideas.
Problems are solved by people pointing out faults and working to solve the problems. Why would you say they are "free to leave the U.S. at any time? What does that mean? Of course they are. The U.S. isn't perfect. We all want to improve our country and our lives. You probably complain about things too. Does it solve anything to tell you that you are free to leave the U.S.?

Lizzychan 1-11-2008 @ 8:52PM

this article is not a big shocker, Universal healthcare for all is a right we all deserve to have. No matter what job you have whether it be CEO of a huge corporation or a gas station attendent, you deserve to get a chance to see a doctor if you get sick.

K.A.Skala 1-11-2008 @ 8:58PM

U.S. system: too many bean counters, lawyers, insurance adjusters, and politicians. Physicians have very little to say. Physicians no longer employees of the hospital: none may be available when needed. Employees do not read patient protocols. Lost my longtime wife to glaring, multiple medical negligence.

RobM 1-11-2008 @ 9:00PM

I think this article is a little irresponsible in that the nature of these "preventable death" stats are not defined. Are you talking about obesity? automobile related deaths? premature births?
Be more specific please.

Gary 1-11-2008 @ 10:55PM

For well over a century, American doctors have been limited in their scope of preventitive medicine and teaching about healthy lifestyle choices. The FDA is the worst culprit. It should be separated into the "FA" and the DA" "Food" and "Drug" should not be under one governing body, as "greed" and "health" can't exist together.
Cancer, as well as many other common diseases, are easily prevented through education and lifestyle choices...but...at the same time...cancer is among the greatest wealth building machines of modern medicine. To teach health is counter productive to wealth building if you are a medical professional. This thinking is so ingrained in medical methodology, that laws are instituted to prevent doctors from telling or teaching the truth even when they discover it and believe it.
Separate the FDA...and the health of America can be revitalized.

Joe Vassar 1-11-2008 @ 9:20PM

Talk about a liberal spinning of a story. Talk to the people of countries that have health insurance controlled by the govt. Ask them how happy they are. Their answers might surprise you, if you take your blinders off and stop looking for the govt. to pay for yet one more of your obligations. What next, govt. to pay auto insurance for you?