[Gocamino] abbreviated Camino and medical help...

[hme347 at aol.com]

Everything I needed during the Camino for minor medical problems was available in pharmacies and the people there were knowledgeable and helpful beyond my expectations.  However, on another trip to Spain, I had a filling pop out and I found a dental clinic at random in Barcelona just by walking down a street and spotting the sign on the front of an office building.



I was astounded by the modern equipment, quality of the dentistry and the courtesy of everyone that assisted me at less than half it would cost in NYC.  One time I had to have emergency root canal surgery in Vienna and the same was true.  I told my dentists in NYC about this and asked why the European equipment and care was seemingly superior, and they simply shrugged it off.  I would not hesitate to be treated by practitioners in Spain or elsewhere in Europe, especially when it would be something life-threatening potentially




Howard Mendes, NYC


-----Original Message-----
From: Rosina <blaroli at aol.com>
To: jethess777 at aol.com; GOCAMINO at oakapple.net; saintjames at yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sat, 3 Jan 2009 6:19 pm
Subject: Re: [Gocamino] abbreviated Camino and medical help...








Hi,
In defense of my profession I'd like to point out that lawyers do not create, or 
impose, the ramifications, extensions, or interpretations of tort law
provisions such as ordinary negligence and malpractice (professional 
negligence); we only do our best to represent those who have suffered what the 
law recognizes as a damages-provoking in
jury.?It is the elected legislators that 
enact tort laws which are then interpreted by judges, with the; damages to 
be?assessed by juries. A lawyer who does not do her/his best in the system, as 
it is, for the benefit of the client would be in breach of the canon of ethics 
and subject to disciplinary action.?
I once saw a backpack-laden pilgrim fall down the front steps of the Santiago 
Cathedral and hurt herself seriously, and when I asked whether she intended to 
sue she looked at me as though I were from Mars. Perhaps such causes of 
action?are not needed in Spain because medical care there is so unbelievably 
inexpensive.
Some months ago the Xunta published the availability of a modified form of 
health insurance for pilgrims, which looked comprehensive and eminently 
affordable. I will dig out the details and will post them.
?This past summer there were? two people sort-of-patrols up and down the French 
and other Caminos; they visited albergues. tourist information offices and so 
on, to make sure that there weren't any pilgrims in need of medical, or other 
help.
For the past few years the University of Madrid has sent about 40 podiatrists, 
and podiatry students, to the Camino to help pilgrims with foot problems; in 
Santiago itself those red-jacketed volunteers routinely approach a limping 
pilgrim to make sure that s/he is getting proper care.?
Unfortunately their function is not always understood. When I asked a pilgrim, 
in crutches,?why she wouldn't talk to them she told20me that she thought they 
were looking for a donation or something like that.
Fortunately in 2009 the Pilgrims Office will hand out information about 
pilgrims' facilities and services, heretofore available only in Spanish, 
translated into several languages; this should minimize such misunderstandings.
Hugs!
Rosina?
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