Shona Holmes
Shona Holmes is a Canadian woman who underwent treatment for a Rathke's cleft cyst in the United States, which she erroneously described to the media as a "brain tumor". Her benign cyst was removed August 1, 2005.
She is a resident of Waterdown, Ontario, a small community in the rural part of Hamilton.
In 2007 she described herself as a "family mediator".
In 2008 she described herself as a "patient advocate".
The Canadian Constitution Foundation sponsored a the lawsuit, which also included Lindsay McCreith, a Newmarket, Ontario also said to have had to travel to the United States for treatment.
Her case cited Chaoulli v Quebec, a Supreme Court of Canada ruling on direct billing filed by Quebec physician Jacques Chaoulli.
As of July 2009 her lawsuit remains unresolved.
Youtube video
Holmes published a YouTube video of her appearance on Global TV in 2007.
Holmes and her husband have two YouTube Channels homiemagnum shonaholmes3 where copies were placed for the Canadian Constitution Foundation who is backing the joint statement of claim along with Lindsay McCreith of Newmarket against the province of Ontario also in 2009 when her story played a role in the debate on American health care reform.
Holmes continued to participate in the US health care debate, publishing op-eds in American papers.
The ad featuring Holmes was broadcast at a cost of $1.8 million in eight US states.
"We went 100 per cent into socialized medicine and we lost all our options," Holmes said recently of the Canadian system.
According to Holmes she was diagnosed with brain cancer, and mortgaged her home to pay $100,000 for treatment at the Mayo Clinic when she was told she would have to wait six months for treatment in Canada.
Canadian reaction
The use of Holmes claims in the USA stirred great controversy in Canada, where the Canadian health care system is popular across the political spectrum.
The use of her claims triggered comments from Ujjal Dosanjh, the Liberal Party of Canada's health critic, who called Holmes case "an exception to the rule".
Jim Meek wrote in the Halifax Chronicle Herald, commenting on the strength of Canadian's reaction to the Holmes claims:
:"Holmes attacked our medical system from inside the U.S., which is seen in this country as an act of High Treason."
Jack Layton, the leader of the New Democratic Party, traveled to the United States, so he could appear on American television to rebut Holmes's claims.
Local reaction
On July 23 2009, A few days following the publication of the ad, the Hamilton Spectator, reported on its front page, the troubles faced by another resident of Waterdown, whose home phone was also listed under the name "S. Holmes".
According to the Spectator Palmira Holmes was inundated by callers wanting to chastise Shona Holmes, describing the volume of calls as "like being bombarded". The Spectator commented that the volume of angry calls Palmira was receiving was consistent with the large volume of comments left on Canadian media websites.
The Toronto Star published a letter to the editor from another Waterdown resident, who had an actual brain tumor, and who described the care she received in the Canadian health care system as being of "exceptional quality".
Her letter concluded with the comment: "I know our health care system works and if Holmes didn't have a problem with her physician what exactly are her motives for taking part in this media spectacle?"
Democrats Abroad reaction
The Hamilton Spectator interviewed Kenneth Sherman, a leader of a group of American expatriates who live in Canada.<ref name=HamiltonSpectator2009-07-23/>
According to Sherman Americans who lived in Canada, and were receipients of the Canadian health care system, recognized that, if Holmes's account was accurate, her case was an atypical one. He challenged the accuracy of Holmes's account. He said the Americans who were members of his group, Democrats Abroad, who were recipients of the Canadian health care system, were considering sponsoring a counter-ad to rebut her claims.
She is a resident of Waterdown, Ontario, a small community in the rural part of Hamilton.
In 2007 she described herself as a "family mediator".
In 2008 she described herself as a "patient advocate".
The Canadian Constitution Foundation sponsored a the lawsuit, which also included Lindsay McCreith, a Newmarket, Ontario also said to have had to travel to the United States for treatment.
Her case cited Chaoulli v Quebec, a Supreme Court of Canada ruling on direct billing filed by Quebec physician Jacques Chaoulli.
As of July 2009 her lawsuit remains unresolved.
Youtube video
Holmes published a YouTube video of her appearance on Global TV in 2007.
Holmes and her husband have two YouTube Channels homiemagnum shonaholmes3 where copies were placed for the Canadian Constitution Foundation who is backing the joint statement of claim along with Lindsay McCreith of Newmarket against the province of Ontario also in 2009 when her story played a role in the debate on American health care reform.
Holmes continued to participate in the US health care debate, publishing op-eds in American papers.
The ad featuring Holmes was broadcast at a cost of $1.8 million in eight US states.
"We went 100 per cent into socialized medicine and we lost all our options," Holmes said recently of the Canadian system.
According to Holmes she was diagnosed with brain cancer, and mortgaged her home to pay $100,000 for treatment at the Mayo Clinic when she was told she would have to wait six months for treatment in Canada.
Canadian reaction
The use of Holmes claims in the USA stirred great controversy in Canada, where the Canadian health care system is popular across the political spectrum.
The use of her claims triggered comments from Ujjal Dosanjh, the Liberal Party of Canada's health critic, who called Holmes case "an exception to the rule".
Jim Meek wrote in the Halifax Chronicle Herald, commenting on the strength of Canadian's reaction to the Holmes claims:
:"Holmes attacked our medical system from inside the U.S., which is seen in this country as an act of High Treason."
Jack Layton, the leader of the New Democratic Party, traveled to the United States, so he could appear on American television to rebut Holmes's claims.
Local reaction
On July 23 2009, A few days following the publication of the ad, the Hamilton Spectator, reported on its front page, the troubles faced by another resident of Waterdown, whose home phone was also listed under the name "S. Holmes".
According to the Spectator Palmira Holmes was inundated by callers wanting to chastise Shona Holmes, describing the volume of calls as "like being bombarded". The Spectator commented that the volume of angry calls Palmira was receiving was consistent with the large volume of comments left on Canadian media websites.
The Toronto Star published a letter to the editor from another Waterdown resident, who had an actual brain tumor, and who described the care she received in the Canadian health care system as being of "exceptional quality".
Her letter concluded with the comment: "I know our health care system works and if Holmes didn't have a problem with her physician what exactly are her motives for taking part in this media spectacle?"
Democrats Abroad reaction
The Hamilton Spectator interviewed Kenneth Sherman, a leader of a group of American expatriates who live in Canada.<ref name=HamiltonSpectator2009-07-23/>
According to Sherman Americans who lived in Canada, and were receipients of the Canadian health care system, recognized that, if Holmes's account was accurate, her case was an atypical one. He challenged the accuracy of Holmes's account. He said the Americans who were members of his group, Democrats Abroad, who were recipients of the Canadian health care system, were considering sponsoring a counter-ad to rebut her claims.
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